readers, especially those who are familiar with the political situation in

Ireland at the time about which the Joyce wrote the final story in

Dubliners. In exploring the meaning of James Joyce's long short-story,

"The Dead", there are many critical approaches to take. Each approach

gives readers a lens, a set of guidelines through which to examine and

express ideas of the meaning of "The Dead." Joyce himself said that the

idea of paralysis was his intended them of all the stories in The Dubliners

of which "The Dead" is the final story.Of all critical approaches, reader

response works best for me. This approach examines the images, symbols,

point-of-view, characterization and setting of "The Dead" in such a way as

to reveal the theme of paralysis that Joyce intended. The two characters

that appeal to me are, Gabriel and his wife Gretta who are invited every

year to a family gathering by Gabriels two aunts on New Years eve. Gabriel,

who is a university professor, does not want to be identified with Ireland.

He wants to be identifies as a citizen of the world.

His arrogance is revealed in his interaction with others. A

implied that at that very moment he was reborn. "A few light taps upon the

world comes hurdling down when Gretta informs him that she has been

heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling,

played in her life" (58). At this moment when he looks out the window and

------------------------------------------------------------------------

year old boy who was madly in love with her. Despite the fact that he was

Also, as snow is water, which can be a symbol of rebirth, as it can also be

go outside and disunite himself from everyone by getting lost in the snow.

This can also signify Joyce's intended theme of paralysis as Gabriel is

differently due to one having different experiences that determines the

It hardly pained him now to think how poor a part he, her husband, had

especially at the moment where he is in a romantic state of mind. His

Some common words found in the essay are:
Peter Rabinowitz, Dubliners Dead, James Joyce's, Ireland Joyce, Dead Joyce, Cornell University, wife gretta, reader response, theme paralysis, Ithaca Cornell, Bestron Pictures, Scwarz Daniel, intended theme paralysis, joyce's intended theme, political situation, critical approaches, university 1994, intended theme, response criticism, cornell university 1994, reader response criticism, james joyce's, snow story,
Approximate Word count = 983
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)