Comparing the Living Dead in James Joyces The Dead and Dubliners Essay

Dubliners and The Living Dead In his work The Dead, James Joyce utilizes his cite Michael Furey, Gretta Conroys deceased love from her youth, as an apparent symbol of how the dead assure a steadfast and continuous cause over the living. The dominant power which Michael maintains over the protagonist, Gabriel Conroy, is that Gabriel is faced with the intense question of whether his wife, Gretta Conroy, loves him and whether he honestly loves her. Joyce provides tangible information to persuade one to believe that Gabriel does truly love his wife. until now though it is made evident to the reader that Gabriel possesses such devotion and veneration for Gretta, Michael diverts Gabriels confidence in his love, causing Gabriel to come to terms with his understanding that his manners is not as Gabriel once thought it to be. Through this process of guide realization, Gabriel has allowed himself to become one of the umpteen living dead of his community in Dublin. During the taxi ride from his aunts party to their hotel, Gabriel reminisces about his and Grettas lives together. Joyce enforces the passion of Gabriels thoughts, Moments of their secret breeding together burst like stars on his memory (Joyce 173). Joyce continues to fill his readers thoughts with examples of the Conroys marvellous life He had felt knightly and happy then, happy that she was his proud of her grace and wifely carriage... after the kindling again of so many memories, the first touch of her body, musical and strange and perfumed, sent through him a keen pang of lust (Joyce 175). Gabriel seizes Gretta in a passionate perceive and inquires into her thoughts. Gretta hesitates at first then proceeds to explain the tragic tale... ...ased to consider themselves irrelevant as living worlds. Gabriel Conroy, through his self-righteous concern for others, has created an inhering paralysis. Because Gabriel dwells on events in the past he is unable to move forward in his life with sat isfaction. Although Gabriel indisputably loves his wife, the elusive curse created by Michael Fureys inconsequential existence, abundant before he and Gretta were involved, has instigated unruly thoughts on Gabriels behalf. This vague and malicious being breaks down Gabriels ego he questions the validity of his and Grettas love for one other and the significance of his own life. These thought processes cause Gabriel to believe himself better finish off dead rather than alive, banishing him to a life of eternal discontent. Works Cited Joyce, James. Dubliners. virgin York Bantam Books, 1990.