Literary Analysis of James Joyce's 'The Dead'

Themes and Symbolism

• The main theme of James Joyce's 'The Dead' is the exploration of identity, nationality, and the relationship between the past and present.

Characters and Actions

• The host of the annual Christmas party in 'The Dead' is the Morkan sisters.
• The episodes of the Christmas party are punctuated by music, singing, and dancing.
• Gabriel sees Mrs. Malins standing still and attentive to the words of an old Irish song at the party.
• Gretta reveals to Gabriel at the hotel that she had a romantic love for Michael Furey, a young man who died for her, and that she is still emotional about it.
• 'The Dead' ends for Gabriel with a sense of emotional numbness and disconnection from his wife and his Irish heritage.

Character Analysis

• Lily's bitter remark to Gabriel about men implies that she has been mistreated or disappointed by men in the past.
• Molly Ivors rebukes Gabriel as a 'West Briton' because he appears to be rejecting his Irish roots and identifying more with British culture.
• Gabriel shows his rejection of his Irish roots through his disparaging remarks about the Irish language and his adoption of British mannerisms.
• Gretta seems indifferent to wealth or social status, suggesting that she values emotional connections and personal experiences over material possessions.
• Gretta's absorption in memories of the past suggests that her relationship with Gabriel is lacking in passion and emotional depth.
• Gabriel seeks his identity through his relationships with others, particularly women, and his desire to escape his Irish heritage.
• Gabriel tries to repair his mistake with Lily by offering her a generous tip, but is met with her bitter response.
• Lily's bitter response reveals that she has been hurt or exploited by men in the past and is wary of their intentions.
• Gabriel's reaction to Molly Ivors' confrontation is one of defensiveness and embarrassment.
• Gretta's past love for Michael Furey impacts her marriage with Gabriel, suggesting that she may have settled for Gabriel rather than following her heart.