The Dead James Joyce Introduction Joyce was an

The Dead James Joyce

Introduction • Joyce was an Irish novelist, short story writer, poet, teacher, and literary critic. • Proponent of modern avant-garde • Include experimental and unorthodox and radical treatment of art & literature • One of the forerunners of stream of consciousness • Narrative technique that attempts to depict the inner thoughts and feelings of characters

Remarkable works • • • A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man The Dubliners (A Collection of Short Stories) Ulysses The Dead is also taken from his The Dubliners The story is extensive of all the collection It is also sometime labelled as a novella

Characters • Gabriel Conroy: Protagonist/ Professor • Kate Morkan and Julia Morkan: Aunts • Mary Jane Morkan: Niece to aunts & cousin of Gabriel • Lily: The caretaker’s daughter • Gretta Conroy: Gabriel’s wife • Molly Ivors: A family acquaintance • Freddy Malins: A Drunkard & friend of family

Plot Summary • The story revolves around Gabriel, his relationship with family, friends & wife • Gabriel & Gretta join Christmas party at his aunt’s house • Gabriel worries about his speech as a guest, a few moments after his arrival fearing that the audience may not understand • Gabriel is confronted in an argument with Ivors

Continued • The discussion continues over nationalism & Ivors criticizes Gabriel • She teases him as a West Briton because he supports English control over Ireland • The interaction leaves him upset and meanwhile, his wife desires to visit her childhood home Galway • Gabriel is absorbed in thought of his speech & the weather outside

Continued • After dining, Gabriel begins his speech • He praises Irish hospitality • Comments at the contemporary age as skeptical and thought-tormented • Praises aunts and Marry as THREE GRACES: • Goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity, and fertility (Greek Mythology) • The speech ends and the guests sing a song in honor

Continued • When Gabriel prepares to leave, he finds his wife absorbs at the tune of song The Lass of Aughrim (Child’s Ballad). • Both leave for the hotel to stay & Gabriel finally feels excited • His passion of family time is dashed by Gretta’s mood. • After inquiring about the reason, Gretta recalls the story of her lover in childhood to Gabriel

Continued • The boy named Furey died early in their relationship • She tells she had been in love with him & sleeps afterwards • Gabriel is shocked & dismayed; ponders at the role of countless dead in living people’s life • Gabriel stands at the window, watching the snow fall

Reception • T. S. Eliot called it one of the greatest short stories ever written • The Dead' is a cornerstone in Joyce's work. • magnificent short novel of tenderness and passion but also of disappointed love and frustrated personal and career expectations • Adaptation: one-act play of the same name & film

Character Assessment • Gabriel Conroy has restrained behavior and his reputation in front of his aunts. • He is considered as a man of authority & caution. • His confidence is challenged by Lily & Ivors. • He relies on the comforts of his class to maintain distance. • He has non existent nationalist sympathies • He has no self control in relation to others.

• He has a stony point of view about things. • Though, unable to control his own self, he yearns to control Gretta’s feelings not out of love. • After Gretta’s confession, his opinion of control softens. • Realization: Reflecting on his own controlled, passionless life, he realizes that life is short, and those who leave the world like Michael Furey, with great passion, in fact live more fully than people like himself.

Continued • Gabriel realizes that the distinction between living & dead is not possible. • Gabriel sees himself as a shadow of a person, flickering in a world in which the living and the dead meet. • Epiphany: As Gabriel sees the snow falling, he realizes that snow (time) covers the living & dead equally.

Significance of Partying • The partying shows a kind of deadening routine that makes the existence lifeless and purposeless. • The event repeats itself, so does the dance and songs like the horse in the anecdote given in the speech. • Such tedium fixes the character in a state of paralysis (Existential Implications)

Themes • • The Intersection between life & death. State of Political Affairs in Ireland. Role of Past in present (Memories) Family & love as failed Institutions Decadence & deadness of religion Mortality & Death Connection Failure

Continued • Jealousy and Male Pride • Isolation • Freedom & Confinement