In "A Little Cloud" by James Joyce the reader is introduced to two main characters, Little Chandler and Ignatius Gallaher. Little Chandler is dissatisfied with his domestic life in Dublin and believes that he needs to go away to Europe to be successful like his old friend Gallaher, who is a journalist in London. Chandler admires Gallaher because he represents all that is enticing and desirable and has certain qualities that Chandler lacks. However, if the reader looks deeper he can see that Gallaher is quite shallow and spiritually dead.

When first introduced to Ignatius Gallaher the reader sees him as a friendly, outspoken man who is happy to see an old friend. He is very chatty and does not really give Tommy a chance to speak. You get the idea that the two characters are almost opposites. As they begin to converse you get the sense that...