Themes of the story A Mother by James Joyce?

The general theme that runs throughout the entire collection of short stories (Dubliners) is the paralysis and death of people caught in frustrating situations, unable to overcome adversity. Little Chandler is the prototype of the poetaster of the Irish Revival current, opportunistic and lacking in artistic integrity; his quest for European sophistication is futile, he ends up as provincial as ever. On the other hand, Gallaher is spiritually dead and his apparent success as a London journalist is shallow.