The short story “The Dead” by James Joyce constructs the tale of early twentieth century upper class society in the Irish city of Dublin. The story tells of the characters’ entrapment and the tragic lives they lead, constantly hiding behind the conventions of their society. Joyce uses symbolism to draw a parallel between the natural way in which the snow covers the land, and the unnatural way in which the characters use their societal culture to cover reality and hide from the truth. The main character of “The Dead” is Gabriel Conroy, a young Irish man who, amidst the forced gaiety of his aunts’ annual Christmas party, comes to realize that the life he is living is much different than he cares to admit. This unwillingness to face truth is a major theme in the story and ties in with their avoidance of problems that the country is facing as well. Every time a controversy erupts in the story it is hastily buried amidst other conversations or actions that are perceived as more comfortable in their particular situation.
At the very beginning of the story, Lily comments to Gabriel that “The men that is now is only all palaver and what they can get out of you” (857).
Reluctant to offer any true solution, Gabriel hands her a coin, using his money as an escape from this uncomfortable scene. He quickly tries to cover up by “arranging his cuffs and the bows of his tie,” (p. 857) a meaningless activity, at best. The next blatant display of ignorance comes with the discussion of Freddy Mains. Aunt Kate whispers quietly to Gabriel, “don’t let him up if he’s screwed.
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I’m sure he’s screwed” (859).
However, when Gabriel brings Freddy up he gives his seal of approval, agreeing that Freddy is not so bad tonight. All those in attendance refuse to recognize Freddy’s alcoholism. Instead of confronting him, they simply avoid it and act as if nothing is wrong. Later, during a religious debate that is beginning to heat up, the characters again attempt to evade the issue.
Mary Jane remarks, .”.. we really are all hungry and when we are hungry we are all very quarrelsome,” and they end by saying that they will “finish the discussion afterwards,” (867) a promise they all know will not be fulfilled. They head to the dinner table with Gabriel in the lead ready to carve the goose. This tradition prevents them from involving themselves in any further discussion on matters that they find uncomfortable.
It is much easier for them to ignore reality and live in a world where the carving of the goose supersedes all else in importance. Many of the issues addressed, such as alcoholism and the question of religion are problems that the Irish nation had been struggling with for many years. The people ignored these problems, however, much in the way the characters ignore evidence of these issues in their daily lives. At another point, when Mary Jane performs a piano solo for the group, Gabriel notes that “the most vigorous clapping came from the four young men in the doorway who had gone away to the refreshment room at the beginning of the piece but had come back when the piano had stopped” (p. 876).
The clapping is not genuine, or at least, the men are certainly not appreciative of Mary Jane’s performance.
Their upbringing and the social circles they move in require these small pleasantries. This is how they lead their lives. The final display of dishonesty comes with Gabriel’s speech, which is filled with comments that contradict his own feelings. Having recently told Molly Ivors how sick he is of his own country, he contradicts himself when he speaks of “genuine warm-hearted courteous Irish hospitality” (p.
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873).
He also denies his previous view of his aunts as two ignorant old women and speaks highly of them in his speech as part of the three Graces of Dublin. Gabriel praises them shamelessly and all the while, he is simply concealing his real self in order to conform to standards of his class. Joyce makes this point the clearest in the story during the speech. As the crowd begins to sing “For they are jolly gay fellows”, the singers turn to each other and “with emphasis” they add “Unless he tells a lie, Unless he tells a lie” (873).
Of course the song continues and any suggestion of Gabriel’s dishonesty is once more forgotten, except by the reader, who can now truly begin to see through the facade of their world.
The parallel to this continual theme of forced ignorance is the more natural phenomenon of snow. In the beginning Gabriel enters the party, his coat lightly dusted with snow. Snow here is symbolic, as snow tends to cover things and therefore obscures the truth. When the caretaker’s daughter, Lily, helps him off with his coat he comments about being in for a night of snow. This foreshadows that the evening will be one of deception and the guests will hide their true feelings behind convention and tradition. The snow becomes an important image again as Gabriel finds himself staring out the window and wishing he were outside.
He thinks to himself how much more pleasant it would be outside. However, he cannot say this, as he is expected to take part in the dinner. Gabriel is trapped literally by the window, but also figuratively by his strict adherence to what is expected of him. Snow appears once more in the closing paragraph of the short story. After the Convoys arrive at the room they have rented for the evening, Gabriel feels an inexplicable lusting for his wife.
Gretta’s thoughts are of a different nature as her mind lingers on Michael Furey, a lover of long ago. Gabriel, not realizing that she is not thinking of him, asks what is on her mind and is shocked at the answer. For Gabriel, this reveals a whole new side of Gretta. He realizes that throughout their marriage, she has been consistently comparing him to the deceased. At this point Gabriel finally sees how little he knows about his own life, and how much he and those he believes to be his closest friends and relatives, hide from truth. After Gretta falls asleep, Gabriel returns to the window and notices that that it is snowing again.
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The story implies that the snow had ceased as Gabriel finally began to see the truth. Joyce speaks of the snow as it covers “the hill where Michael Furey lay buried,” and continues to fall “through the universe” (884).
Once more the covers that Gabriel hides behind fall back into place. One character who appears to go against the grain of the story is Miss Molly Ivors, a young Irish nationalist who is not afraid to say what she believes. While dancing with Gabriel, she calls him a West Briton, having found out about an anonymous book review column he had been writing for a paper with a British slant. His first reaction is embarrassment and later anger.
Gabriel feels that they both should simply have ignored the topic. Her perseverance and strong character are evident at one other point in the novel, when Gabriel offers to escort her home. She declines, shouting “For goodness sake go in to your suppers and don’t mind me. I’m quite well able to take care of myself” (p.
867).
Molly sees that their answer to the disturbance will simply be to retreat into their lives, and she becomes enraged at this, though nobody can seem to understand why. Within a moment, this incident is quickly forgotten and they turn to their dinner for comfort. Molly Ivors is not simply important in the story of the characters lives. It is her position as a nationalist that makes her a significant symbol in the tragedy the country is facing at the time. She is independent, takes pride in her own opinions, and refuses to fall victim to those of anyone else.
Joyce seems to say that if the general populace of Ireland could stop ignoring their problems, then they, like Molly Ivors could stand up for the nation they once believed in. These many incidents which occur continually throughout the story prove that “The Dead” is indeed a tragic tale. The lives of the characters are tragic in themselves, and the parallel symbolism of the snow serves to show the true tragedy in Joyce’s creation. Mary Jane makes perhaps the most significant point in the story when she comments that the snow is “general all over Ireland” (p.
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877).
The snow blankets the truth and the people do nothing to stop it, but instead add a covering of their own. Molly Ivors, the one person who refuses to ignore the situation, is pushed aside and quickly forgotten, because the society depicted is incapable of handling those who wish to seek truth. Instead they continue as if there had been no disruption, and allow the snow to fall and cover the ground once more. With these reoccurring themes in mind it is clear that “The Dead” is a story which uses symbolism effectively in portraying the ignorant lives of its characters.
