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“A Little Cloud” maps the frustrated aspirations Little Chandler has to change his life and pursue his dream of writing poetry. The story contrasts Little Chandler’s dissatisfaction and temerity with Gallaher’s bold writing career abroad. Little Chandler believes that to succeed in life, one must leave Dublin like Gallaher did. Little Chandler compares himself to Gallaher, and, in doing so, blames his shortcomings on the restraints around him, such as Dublin, his wife, and his child. He hides from the truth that his aspirations to write are fanciful and shallow. Not once in the story does Little Chandler write, but he spends plenty of time imagining fame and indulging in poetic sentiments. He has a collection of poetry books but cannot muster the courage to read them aloud to his wife, instead remaining introverted and repeating lines to himself. He constantly thinks about his possible career as a poet of the Celtic school and envisions himself lauded by English critics, often to the extent that he mythologizes himself. Little Chandler uses his country to dream of success, but at the same time blames it for limiting that success. As a result, the “little cloud” in the short story’s title is meant to represent Little Chandler. Given their fleeting nature, clouds are often associated with impermanence and insignificance. This description matches how Little Chandler sees himself because he is obsessed with his own inadequacy and his inability to leave a mark on the world.
