The following section is a proposed addition to the page for James Joyce's short story The Dead (short story). Csforster (talk) 02:33, 17 February 2015 (UTC)
Themes
editAt the close of the story, Gabriel seems to be considering his own mortality and the ending of his life.[1] Death, as the title suggests, is the most present theme in "The Dead". As Gabriel discovers the reason for his wife's distress, he realize that although everyone will die, including his aunts, there are different types of death. Gabriel is consumed with the idea of a heroic, young death as displayed by Michael Furey. The snow that is described falling throughout the story falls on both the living and the dead, blurring the divide between death and life.
The theme of epiphany reoccurs within Dubliners and is especially prevalent in "The Dead". The party where the majority of the story is located takes place probably on the holiday of the epiphany and Gabriel at the end of the story, experiences his own epiphany. Most stories in Dubliners do not have distinct epiphanies and are ambiguous as to whether a realization is made. Gabriel seems to be self-involved and numbly participating in a routine life before his wife tells him about Michael Furey. After hearing about this event in his wife's life, Gabriel's epiphany calls him to question whether his life has meaning or purpose. This event could also be considered a type of mid-life crisis, or reawakening.[2]
Heritage and Irish pride cause several problems to arise in "The Dead". Gabriel hold the unpopular opinion of wanting to leave Ireland and resist studying the traditional culture. Mentions of Galway and the Aran Isles represent the more traditional areas of Ireland in opposition with Dublin.[3] Dublin seems to be the only place in Ireland Gabriel can bear to be and although he prefers to spend his time in continental Europe, he praises Irish hospitality in his dinner toast. There is a blatant difference between Michael Furey, a traditional native of Ireland who dies tragically, and Gabriel, a resistor of Irish culture who lives what he realizes to be a meaningless life.
12watsone (talk) 21:13, 16 February 2015 (UTC)
- ^ LeBlanc, Jim (2010). ""The Dead" Just Won't Stay Dead". James Joyce Quarterly. 28 (1): 27–39.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Rendall, Thomas (2010). "Joyce's "The Dead" and the Midlife Crisis". Joyce Studies Anual. 2010 (1): 262–271.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ O'Dowd, Peadar (1999). "James Joyce's 'The Dead' and Its Galway Connections". Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society. 51: 189–193.