"The Dead"

 CHARACTER:
Gabriel Conroy- protagonist in this story who is well educated. Gabriel struggles social life, he feels out of place because he thinks that he is higher than others. He finds out at the annual celebration that his wife, Gretta is still in love with her childhood lover and he realized how his marriage lacks true love.
Gretta Conroy- Gabriel's wife who is minor character until the ending where she reveals her childhood lover, Michael Furey.
Molly Ivors- a woman who tease Gabriel about him being West Briton, an Irishman who supports union with Britain, which is an insult.
Julia- one of the aging sisters who throw the party.
Kate- one of the aging sisters who worries about Julia and the happiness of the guests.
Michael Furey- Gretta's childhood lover who died for Gretta at the age of 17.

Q. The Dead is final story in James Joyce's short story collection Dubliners; each story centers on a character who experiences an epiphany- a moment of insight or self-revelation. Who has an epiphany in this story?

          - Gabriel: realizing his wife is still in love with her childhood lover/ he has never loved someone like how Michael loved his wife/ he is very self-centered person.

Q. Consider all the references to death, the dead, and dying throughout the text, what is their significance?  How does they influence/inform Joyce's title selection?

          -Michael Furey who died at the age of 17 (Gabriel's wife's childhood friend) :pg.1971, it was 17 when Michael died but Gretta never moved on.
          -Death of their brother which made Mary Jane to live with them.
          -pg.1973, imagining about Julia's death: Julia is getting old, losing her hearing and very paled face.
Q. Why is Gabriel anxious about his speech? what dies his anxious reveal about him ?

          -He was anxious that people might not understand his speech. He thinks he is very smart and outrage people. He cares about how people think about him.

Q. Consider the names of the characters, specifically Gabriel and Michael--what is their origin/meaning generally and then consider their use in the text.

          - Names of Angels. Michael is the angel right below God who leads God's armies to final victory over the force of evil. Michael is very powerful though, Gabriel is not as much powerful as Michael. Gabriel angel encounters Mary who consents to bear the Messiah. In many way, Gabriel is always going to be below Michael. Michael is the one who Gretta loves the most. Micheal is the one who is still in Gretta's heart even after the death of Michael separates them. Gabriel can't even imagine how Michael is so effective to Gretta.