Essay, Research Paper: A Little Cloud

A little Cloud

Colours mentioned:

"His eyes, which were of a bluish slate colour, revealed his unhealthy pallor and shone plainly above the vivid orange tie he wore."

This colour description of Gallaher shows that he has escaped Dublin's paralysis yet the bluish slate colour shows that he is still a Dubliner and that he is slightly attached to the darkness of Dublins paralysis. Orange is a very light, warm colour but it contrasts with the colour of his eyes. This shows that he is free and 'wild' and able to escape Dublins burden.

"The half moons of his nails were perfect and when he smiled you caught a glimpse of a row of childish white teeth."

In this quotation the word 'white' has the connotation of a clean and innocent, possibly implying that Little Chandler has the socialistic character according to religion and its morals. Thus also it could mean that it has the meaning of 'black and white', a set way of life that Little Chandler follows (same as Mr Duffy in 'a painful case'). Both characters believe that there is no grey areas in life. Yet when Little Chandler has a reunion with Gallaher

"The glow of a late autumn sunset covered the grass plots and walks. It cast a shower of kindly golden dust on the untidy nurses and decrepit old men who drowsed on the benches"

This quotation tends to imply the burden that the Dubliners have brought upon themselves. 'The glow of a late autumn sunset' tends to provoke the reader to think that the colour brown ( also mentioned in Eveline) is the paralysis that the Dubliners have.

Throughout the story Joyce uses specific techniques to interest the readers imagination. An example of this is that towards the beginning of the story Joyce uses a slightly dark and patronising effects such as 'the glow of a late autumn sunset' and 'the friend whom he had known under a shabby and nessitous guise had become a brilliant figure on the London Press.'
Yet sometimes the reader thinks that the written text is written purposely depicting Joyce's own feelings. Such as 'There was no doubt about it: if you wanted to succeed you had to go away.'