Symbolism In Joyce'S Clay

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Symbolism in James Joyce’s ’Clay’ Clay is a short story featured in James Joyce’s pioneering oeuvre, The Dubliners. The story is about an old maid of the name of Maria. Maria works at the Dublin by Lamplight laundry, a laundry that looks after women who are ostracised by society. Maria is liked and respected by every inhabitant and colleague; she is often labelled a ’peace-maker’ (http://www.online-literature.com/james_joyce/956/) . The story is set on a Hallow’s Eve when Maria departs earlier from her work than she usually does, donning her best clothes in order to pay a visit to a friendly couple. At the shops she buys cakes to surprise the couple and their children but on the tram she leaves some of the cakes as she is positively taken aback by the courteousness and nicety of an elderly gentleman. Only after she has departed from the tram and arrived at the house does she realise that she has lost the plum cake which she bought especially for the couple. The couple, their children and two next-door girls play the conventional game of All Hallow’s. Maria is blindfolded and first touches a piece of clay but than she goes for the prayer book. The story is concluded as Maria sings an air which renders both her and Joe very emotional. At first glance Clay is about an ordinary old lady’s ordinary Hallow’s Eve celebration, however the short story is replete with symbolism, and nothing is what it appears at first. The story opens with Joyce describing Maria cutting a piece of cake, which from afar seems uncut. ’These barmbracks seemed uncut; but if you went closer you would see that they had been cut into long thick even slices and were ready to be handed round at tea. Maria had cut them herself.’ (http://www.online-literature.com/james_joyce/956/) ’This ordinary cake at the beginning offers the reader a guide on how to view the subsequent story, where things
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