James Joyce's "The Dead"

A detailed Summary of James Joyce's "The Dead"

James Joyce's story "The Dead" has a tremendous impact on the

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

Approximate Word count = 983
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

join now Save Paper

Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

"Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
Jack M.
"With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
Brian P.
"I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
Sara J.
"I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
Rachel W.
"I love this site!!!"
Marie N.