City Life and Blasé attitude in James Joyce’s Dubliners
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Department of English
Abstract
This research paperanalyses metropolitan people’s blasé attitude and
indifference in James Joyce’s Dubliners. Though these qualities do not convey
positive meaning,they are necessary to survive in the metropolitan city like Dublin.
Because blasé attitude and indifferent save metropolitan people’s freedom,
individuality and provide liberty.Most of the characters from these selected stories
areself-centered, guided by utilitarian values and lack of emotion. People are forced
to be indifferent due to the outer environment, busy schedule, punctuality, money and
so on. This research highlights the aspect of blasé attitude and indifference nature in
light of George Simmel’s idea of blasé attitude, money economy and so on.
Furthermore, italso uses Walter Benjamin’s concept of “Loss of Aura” which are
appropriate for this research. The researcher with evidence, reaches the conclusion
that blasé attitude is a way of life of city dwellers to save their sense of being in
metropolitan city.
Key Words: Blasé attitude, indifference nature, money-economy,city dwellers
and self-centered, freedom and individuality.