Liberal Humanism is a form of study that came before criticism. Liberal humanism is the traditional approach to English Studies. There are some aspects to liberal humanism that have been made into what s called the 'ten tenets'. They are invisible guidelines literary critics use when reading a text. It is said that "That they can only be brought to the surface by a conscious effort of will." (Barry, 16). Using James Joyce's "Eveline" to emphasize these tenets will show how Liberal Humanism is seen in literary works.
             The first tenet is that "good literature is of timeless significance; it somehow transcends the limitation and peculiarities of the age it is written in, and thereby speaks to what is constant in human nature." (Barry, 16). In other words, literature is timeless and speaks to what is constant in human nature, meaning that while some novels and short stories seem set in the current time period, it must still contain a 'universal truth' or constant. If there is no constant that the written piece is not literature. In Dubliners by James Joyce, the first tenet is found in the themes used in the book. One major theme used by Joyce and has been seen in literature over the decades is the prison of routine. An example of these themes are found in "Eveline" shows that the first tenet is true. Eveline as a character is reliant on routine. She had a simple life before she given the opportunity to break free from routine and find a new one with her lover Frank, but at the last moment she's struck with fear of the unknown and isn't able to leave her old life. This theme, the prison of routine, is proof of a constant, meaning by critical analyst's beliefs' that Dubliners is in fact a work of literature. The fourth tenet is similar to the first, but emphasizes the belief that "Human nature is essentially unchanging. The same passions, emo...