The editors, taking into account the time and the situation in which the collection takes place, could have been given the title Paralysis. “Paralysis is the inability to move physically, but it is also a spiritual, social, cultural, political and historical malaise” (Bulson 2006: 36). James Joyce considered Dublin the capital of paralysis. Joyce was surrounded by the mundane and unromantic reality that was Dublin society in the early 1900s. On the contrary, the term paralysis can be seen as a paradox because it prevents the characters from engaging in life, but it is also the driving force that moves the stories forward. This essay will discuss “Eveline,” “A Little Cloud,” and “Clay” as they best represent the theme of paralysis. It is also interesting to determine the source of the characters' paralysis and whether this includes internal or external influences. It will examine how Joyce represents paralysis and how it manifests in Dubliners. “Eveline” is at the center of the paralysis. She is the only character with the ability to escape, making the paralysis more effective. Its source of paralysis is both internal and external. The internal source is her fear of the unknown while the external source is her father's threats of violence “lately he had begun to threaten her” (Joyce 1914: 26). All this puts an end to her feeling of paralysis: “The story depicts Eveline as stuck between two different versions of patriarchy: the brutality of her father and the possible immorality of Frank” (Ingman 2009: 140). Eveline is ultimately paralyzed in every aspect of her life and is tragically unaware of it. Joyce further depicts Eveline's paralysis by presenting her as an observer of life: she was sitting at the window... middle of a paper..... .mcake and her reaction when he disappears "tinted of shame, vexation and disappointment” (Joyce 1914: 79) prove that she has naive concerns. His inability to focus on more authentic subjects further testifies to his paralysis. Joyce's ability to play with language perfectly demonstrates the prevailing feeling of paralysis. His narrative style includes scrupulous meaning where the reader is encouraged to engage with the text and look beyond individual consciousness. Joyce's use of written text and free indirect speech strengthens our understanding of paralysis. The stories “Eveline,” “A Little Cloud,” and “Clay” best articulate the theme of paralysis. Paralysis unfolds throughout the text. It shows the physical and emotional moral decadence that defined a generation. Paralysis defines “the Dublin that Joyce left and helps explain why he left it” (Gibson 2006: 68).