Major Transformations in 21st-Century Irish Society as Reflected in Normal People—A Comparison with Joyce

This paper explores the transformation of 21st-century Irish society by comparing Sally Rooney’s Normal People with James Joyce’s Ulysses, set in the early 20th century. Covering events from 2011 to 2015, Normal People offers valuable insights into modern Irish life.Joyce highlights the suffering of the Irish people under British rule and the Catholic Church’s influence. By contrast, Normal People makes no mention of historical conflicts between Ireland and Britain. The Catholic Church’s influence has clearly waned; characters rarely attend church, and core doctrines, like opposition to abortion, are dismissed as “regressive political views.” Although Joyce faced criticism for his explicit portrayal of sexual themes, his approach stayed within what was socially acceptable at the time. Homosexuality and masochism, for instance, are depicted as deviant behaviors. In Normal People, however, a broader spectrum of sexual orientations and preferences is portrayed, with homosexuality and masochistic tendencies recognized as personal choices. The two authors also take distinctly different approaches to class issues. For Joyce, the struggles of the lower class are not a central theme. In contrast, Rooney focuses on both upper- and lower-class characters, highlighting the conflicts that arise from their different backgrounds and life experiences.Many contemporary Irish writers remain deeply connected to Ireland’s historical narrative, but Rooney’s work marks a significant shift. By focusing on contemporary issues, she suggests that current and future challenges now carry more weight than past grievances in Irish literature.