Comparing the Living Dead in James Joyces The Dead and...

Dubliners and The Living Dead In his work The Dead, James Joyce utilizes his character Michael Furey, Gretta Conroys deceased love from her youth, as an apparent symbol of how the dead have a steadfast and continuous power 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 substantial information to persuade one to believe that Gabriel does truly love his wife. Even though it is made evident to the reader that Gabriel possesses such devotion and adoration for Gretta, Michael diverts Gabriels confidence in his love, causing Gabriel†¦show more content†¦Gabriel becomes distraught at the revelation of her statement. Joyce describes Gabriels anguished state, Generous tears filled Gabriels eyes. He had never felt like that himself towards any woman, but he knew that such a feeling must be love (Joyce 182). Gabrie l is perplexed as to why, if Gretta loves him so much, she still possesses memories of her first love. He also wonders why this important detail of Grettas life was not brought to his attention at an earlier point. Gabriels recognition that he has been excluded from what he believes to be the deepest experience of Grettas life now becomes the deepest experience of his life. Grettas reaction to his questions about her first love causes Gabriel to become overwhelmed by Michael Fureys control over him. Gabriel by his ideas, his tastes, and his sensitivities has been isolated from others but always found solace in his self-esteem. Michael Furey has destroyed this. The tears gathered more thickly in his eyes and in the particular darkness he imagined he saw a young man standing under a dripping tree (Joyce 182). Though Michael is certainly dead in body, he lives on in the memories of both Gretta and Gabriel, and his influence can in no way be obliterated. Joyce depicts the power Michael has over Gabriel, A vague terror seized Gabriel... as if... some impalpable and vindictive being was coming against him, gathering forces in its vague world (JoyceShow MoreRelated Epiphanies in Joyces Dubliners and Chaucers Canterbury Tales1179 Words   |  5 PagesJames Joyce’s Dubliners is a compilation of stories that all rely on character epiphanies in order to develop each story. These epiphanies change the tone of each story because each yields a negative change or reaction. In both â €Å"Araby† and â€Å"The Dead†, the characters realize or learn something about the world around them, which makes them second guess either themselves or the reason behind their actions. Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales contains at least one tale that relies on an epiphany to helpRead MoreEssay on Comparing Dubliners and To the Lighthouse2394 Words   |  10 PagesComparing Dubliners and To the Lighthouse In Dubliners and To the Lighthouse, James Joyce and Virginia Woolf explore the depressing results of lives devoid of growth or meaning versus those who dare to live their lives in spite of all strife and adversity. Joyce and Woolf are both concerned with the meaninglessness of stagnant lives, the first operating in pre-WWI Ireland, the second in England during and after the war. The Dead and To the Lighthouse both reveal the despair of lives that