Exiles

Exiles, first performed in 1918, is James Joyce’s only extant play and reflects many of the themes found in his fiction: self-exile, fidelity, identity, and personal freedom. The play centers on Richard Rowan, a writer returning to Ireland after years abroad, and the emotional tensions between him, his partner Bertha, and an old friend. Influenced by Ibsen, the drama unfolds through subtle dialogue and psychological realism. Though less celebrated than Joyce’s prose works, Exiles is a compelling examination of emotional honesty and the boundaries of love and freedom.