James Joyces The Dead Main Theme Research Assignment

James Joyce’s “The Dead” Main Theme
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James Joyce’s “The Dead” Main Theme
From the story’s start to end, the theme of death is present. Initially, it appears that events of the plot are somewhat banal and circuitously associated with death (Loeffler, 2013). The story narrates a gathering with openly shared thoughts about culture, politics and nationalism along with local practices and customs such as garments, the dance and so on. However, despite the story’s simple beginning, as it advances, an atmosphere marked by an eerie tone of decay slowly develops. For illustration, Gabriel’s first words upon arrival to the party are “but they overlook that my wife takes three mortal hours to prepare herself” (Joyce, 2006). Additionally, words like ‘dark’ and ‘pale’ are utilized to portray the character’s physical appearance, therefore, giving the story a dark tone linked to a context of death.
In Gabriel’s dinner speech, the death theme is openly presented. “We shall talk of them with affection and pride, still relish in our hearts the memory of those departed and those departed whose fame the universe will unwillingly let die” (Joyce, 2006) Gabriel in this discourse mentions the deceased’s virtues painting them as an ideal to imitate for the existing society. Some character’s names are subtly related to death. For example, the house keeper’s name, Lily, infers the image of a lily flower, commonly used in burials. Numerous deaths are discussed throughout the reading such as Ellen (Gabriel’s mother), legendary tenor Parkinson, and Patrick Morkan. All deaths are remembered in good light, featuring their positive qualities.
At the story’s end when Greta speaks to Gabriel about Michael Furey, a comparison of the two men emerges in Gabriel’s mind. He discovered he was not imperative in Greta’s life as he initially thought (Joyce, 2006). The story ends where Gabriel envisions his aunt’s possible death, and Gabriel makes a self-reflection of his aunt’s passing away, unlike Michael, who died valiantly for love (Joyce, 2006).
The epiphany experienced by Gabriel at the story’s end is another pertinent theme in “The Dead.” After Greta’s affirmation of having loved another before meeting Gabriel, Gabriel acknowledges he knows not how Greta feels, thinks, or wants, it is like he does not know her. This insight forms when Gabriel looks into the mirror and sees a “farcical figure, acting as his aunt’s penny boy, a tense good-natured sentimentalist, pontificating to vulgarians and idealizing his clownish desires, the pitiable fatuous kindred he had caught a glimpse of in the mirror” (Joyce, 2006). This realization uncovers the real Gabriel. He is a pathetic individual, in reality, more dead rather than alive, and here, Gabriel is assuming his meaningless and transient existence. The moment he gazes through the window is when he connects with his Irish soul; it connotes the death of his ostentatious and self-absorbe...