Exiles

This drama, Joyce's only extant play, first appeared in 1918. Like much of Joyce's earlier work, it presents a version of his own life, in this case, an imaginative speculation about what might have happened had he chosen to return to Ireland. "Exiles" is an important document in Joyce's literary career; in addition to its revelation of the author's self-image, it casts light on the significance for him of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, whose influence on the play is obvious. It is 1912, and the protagonist, an Irish writer named Richard Rowan, has recently returned to Ireland from abroad. His estrangement from Irish society is revealed through his relationships with his common-law wife, Bertha (who is being courted by the Rowans' longtime friend, journalist Robert Hand), and his cousin Beatrice, formerly the most inspiring figure in his life and now his child's music teacher. This drama treats Joyce's characteristic themes of exile, freedom, and the meaning - and cost...