Dubliners
Joyce's book "The Dubliners" reflects Irish life at the return of the century. "The Dead" addresses the themes of poverty, politics, religion, and the role of gender. Miss Kate and Miss Julia Morkan are throwing their annual Misses Morkan Dance. It is a huge party around the Christmas season. The party is huge, friends family and students are always present for the annual event. Lily, the caretaker's daughter, struggles to keep up with her many tasks. When Gabriel and Gretta arrive, Lily greets them and hands them their coats. Gabriel notices her slim body and asks her if she has plans of marriage. When Lily replies with scorn for men's predatory nature, Gabriel is rattled and tries to smooth things over with a nice tip. She refuses the tip but eventually accepts.
She tries to smooth things over by inviting Gabriel and Gretta on a vacation in Ireland. Later in the evening, the "Lass of Aughrim" is played by the sisters. Gabriel was unaware of the past romance she had with a young boy who died. He wasn't a healthy young man, and died a week after Gretta joined the convent. In some it represents the role of genders during that time. At that point, Gabriel realizes how unreal their love is, and feels that his life is almost one big lie. Later in the night, the Gabriel ends up dancing with Miss Ivors. This is the symbol of the "living dead". He declines however and she calls him a West-Briton. He is to make sure he is alright and not out of hand. To Gretta, these initiatives her husband demands are silly. The Dubliners addresses many aspects of life in Ireland during the beginning of the century. Gretta later breaks down in tears over a lost love. She supposedly wasted her talent being a choir girl for all these years. Gabriel is uncertain about the type of speech he should give.
Common topics in this essay:
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