The Future of Human Awareness

Abstract

In Dubliners, first published in 1914, James Joyce recounts the tragic story of Mr. Duffy, a bank cashier who “lived at a Utile distance from his body” (Joyce, 2006, p. 86). If you are familiar with the story you will recall that Mr. Duffy is befriended by a married woman who “urged him to let his nature open to the full” (p. 87). She longs for his touch and one evening “caught up his hand passionately and pressed it to her cheek” (p. 88). Mr. Duffy immediately rejects her advance, and terminates the relationship. Apparently heartbroken, she deteriorates into alcoholism and later suicides, crossing some railway tracks in front of an oncoming train. Mr. Duffy later learns of her fate in a newspaper obituary. He is initially revolted by the news of her addiction and her “commonplace vulgar death” (p. 90), but is eventually compelled to ask himself: “Why had he withheld life from her? Why had he sentenced her to death?” (p. 91).