As one of the short stories in Dubliners with which Joyce was completely contented, ¡°A Little Cloud¡± is quite unique in that its title has attracted a wide range of critical attention for a long time. The title has been understood mainly in terms of specific characters, allusions from literary works, and a metaphor with negative implication. According to our understanding of the title, the story may be read with a different perspective. Without taking into account Ireland¡¯s political, social, and cultural backgrounds, many critics have read the story, assuming that the title is from ¡°1 Kings¡± of the Bible, where Elijah sees ¡°a little cloud out of the sea, like a man¡¯s hand.¡± As a writer from a colonized country, Joyce was aware of the role of heroic discourse, which was appropriated to boost and consolidate the Western imperial project. In ¡°A Little Cloud¡± Joyce challenges the heroic discourse which glorifies heroes like Elijah. While reminding us of Elijah, Chandler is comically described as an anti-heroic man who cannot escape from his dry and monotonous life far from performing heroic deeds. |