The Dead by James Joyce
James Joyce’s The Dead is a perfect book to read during the Holidays. This seemingly simple story about an Irish family’s annual Holiday dinner is a complex and layered narrative. Joyce’s language is not just lush, but it also offers profound psychological insight. Some scholars interpret this story as a critique of the Catholic Church, Irish parochialisms, and the treatment of women, which are undoubtedly present. However, for this reader, the true allure of this novella is Joyce’s profound psychological insight into his protagonist’s inner life.
The Year is 1914. Gabriel Conway and his wife Gretta arrive at the Dublin home of Gabriel’s aunts and niece for their annual post-New Year’s dinner. Though there are many guests, Gabriel, as the family’s sole surviving male, is welcomed as the guest of honor. He is described as an educated but anxious man whose sense of self may be more fragile than the respect bestowed upon him. Once he arrives, the evening of eating, drinking, laughing, singing and dancing can begin. Tradition dictates that Gabriel will carve the goose and offer the toast. As the ubiquitous snow falls gently outside, Gabriel speaks of the lives of the assembled guests and acknowledges the dead relatives they miss.
At the end of this joyful evening, as the guests bundle up to leave, Gabriel sees his beloved wife, Gretta, sitting in the stairwell, listening to another guest sing a lovely song. Transfixed, she looks like she has been transported to another world. Her thoughts and feelings seem unknowable to him. When they return to their hotel room, Gabriel queries Gretta and is flattened by what she tells him. He does not respond with empathy but with narcissistic rage, as he wonders if he truly knows his wife. Does he even know himself? Has he deceived himself about their relationship? Has he misunderstood who he is? Joyce’s ability to capture Gabriel’s crushing feelings and internal reflections with such psychological acumen is exquisite. This powerful short story is as beautiful as it is perceptive about the intricate complexities of the human soul. 5/5