Grace (short story)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Grace" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short story by James Joyce | |||
| Country | Ireland | ||
| Language | English | ||
| Genre(s) | short story | ||
| Publication | |||
| Published in | Dubliners | ||
| Publication type | Collection | ||
| Media type | |||
| Publication date | 1914 | ||
| Chronology | |||
| |||
"Grace" is a short story by James Joyce written toward the end of 1905[1] and published in his 1914 collection Dubliners.
The story begins with a man unconscious after falling down the stairs in a pub after heavy drinking. A friend of his, Mr. Power, finds him, reveals he is named Tom Kernan, and takes him home to his wife. Kernan is a salesman who once possessed an easy charm and manner but has since descended into alcoholism. An injury to his tongue sustained during the fall keeps Kernan in bed.
Two days later, he is visited by his friends Power, M'Coy, and Cunningham. The friends have concocted a plan to get Kernan to attend a Catholic retreat with them. The four discuss many matters and finally settle upon religion. The friends mention attending a confessional retreat at a Jesuit church and invite Kernan along. He does not respond to the idea at first. The conversation shows a superficial understanding of the Catholic faith, and the friends make many comical errors about the Church.
The scene shifts to the Jesuit church in Gardiner Street where all listen to a priest's sermon.
