This paper addresses how ¡°Grace,¡± the penultimate story of the Dubliners stories, reveals itself to be corresponding to the paralysis of Dubliners in light of biblical theology and hermeneutics. Biblical theology shows Father Purdon`s preaching interpreted a Bible text in his own corrupted hermeneutics based on his theological misunderstanding of the concept of grace. An ¡°appropriate¡± interpretation of the text, which this paper tries to provide, testifies that he is himself inflicted with spiritual paralysis. It reflects Joyce`s criticism that Dublin Catholicism is corrupted by worshipping both God and Mammon, which is castigated as a spiritual adultery. ¡°Grace¡± proves Irish landscape of Catholicism rendered Dubliners trapped in the net of religion with no expectation of God`s grace. |