The Dead begins in a quiet night with snow flurries. The party continues inside while the snow falls outside. Although this annual party takes place, there is a routine that it follows. Gabriel and Gretta’s interactions are affected by the events unfolding at this party. The party is full of dancing and drinking, with some old friends getting together and making smalltalk. Gretta tells Gabriel in a tearful way that she’s been thinking of an old lover since hearing a familiar tune at the celebration. Gabriel was shocked, as he had not noticed his wife’s emotions. Gabriel did no realize that since Gretta heard that familiar song in their drawing room, she was entranced by a vivid memory of a previous lover. Gabriel is narcissistic and doesn’t realize his wife’s emotional distress.
Gabriel’s narcissism is supported by many factors. Lilly, his housemaid shows the first signs of narcissism. Upon his arrival, Lilly takes his coat. They make some small-talk. Gabriel starts off well, until Lilly tells him that men will only do anything to get what they want from her. He leaves the conversation, but doesn’t dance. He reflects on their encounter and his speech, “his entire speech was a failure from the beginning to the end” (Joyce p.2). Gabriel’s internal monologue is heard in this scene. In it, he acknowledges that his conversation with Lilly was a failure or there may have been some misunderstanding. It is possible that Gabriel thought a monetary award would compensate for his apparent awkwardness during the discussion. He is able to display his wealth and class so easily, displaying a narcissistic trait. In the end, Lilly is not happy with his behavior and he does not apologize to her.
Gabriel is aware of what is happening around him. He knows what’s going on. He then had a conversation about the horrible conversation he had with Lilly with his wife. Freddy Malins was a party-goer who arrived always drunk. Gabriel ensured Freddy woke up in time to enjoy the evening. Gabriel moved Freddy to a different room so that he wouldn’t cause a disturbance in the middle of a dance party. This is not a self-absorbed person who is concerned with his appearance. Gabriel is a kind person, and he goes above and beyond to make sure the party runs smoothly. Gabriel made sure Freddy did not cause any problems for the other partygoers, but he left Freddy at Mr. Browne’s house. Gabriel then returned to the event without returning to Freddy or Mr. Browne.
Gabriel’s inner monologue is not limited to external acts of kindness. Gretta, Gabriel and their friends decide at the party’s end to take a taxi to the hotel rather than walking. Gretta seems to be mesmerized at first by the music being played in the drawing-room. She remains distracted, even after the music has stopped. She is silent, thinking, and lost in her memory of how her lover died waiting for them in the cold. Gabriel observes his wife preoccupied or even emotional distressed, yet he doesn’t try to communicate with her. Like his wife, Gabriel is lost in the world of his own. There are similarities in the themes, with a hint of his desire for her. Gabriel’s thoughts can be seen in the quote written by Joyce when they first arrive at their hotel. Gabriel is shown to feel that “they have escaped life and duty, escaped friends and family and run off together with wild hearts into a novel adventure” (Joyce). George L. Lucente examines the meaning of this quote in Encounters & Subtexts: A Note Upon Joyce’s Narrative Technique. Lucente acknowledges Gabriel’s longing for escape. He also points out that Gabriel takes note of Gretta’s odd mood as well as what follows. Lucente says Gabriel was not thinking of his wife or how the memory might be affecting her. He said that Gabriel’s mind was focused on “losing”. Gabriel’s thoughts are not on Gretta, who just told a story about her ex-boyfriend and is now crying in bed, but rather on winning or losing control.
Gabriel also hears Gretta’s story in the room of the hotel. Gretta describes her old lover. Brian Cosgrove analyzed and described Gabriel’s response in his article Male Sexuality And Female Rejection: Consistent Irony In Joyce’s “The Dead”. Gabriel asks Gretta what’s wrong when he first notices she is upset. She bursts out in tears and says that the song reminds her of a former lover. Gabriel is stunned to discover that Gretta was once in love with someone. But he also feels self conscious. Gretta starts to tell her story about Michael Furey dying for Gretta. Cosgrove states this. He states that Gabriel is capable of escaping this inward state. Gretta’s explanation of Michael and their relationship quickly ruins this chance. Cosgrove also describes Gabriel’s reaction to Gretta telling her story. This is a crucial part of Gretta’s past and her identity.
Gabriel may have been self-conscious because of this. Gabriel meets Miss Ivors at the party after having a chat with Lilly. He also helped Freddy Malins. As they dance, she asks him if he would like to take a vacation, but he says he’s already planned one. She revealed his pen name, which was a journalist for a newspaper. She accused him of hating his country because he didn’t want to go on the trip, but planned a cycling tour instead. Julia, who is one of three hosts, including Gabriel’s two aunts, sings a song after Gabriel dances with Miss Ivors. Gabriel makes a speech which garners applause from the guests and toasts to Miss Ivors and her two aunts.
Gabriel met Lily just prior to his speech. It was an experience that made him feel more self conscious than he did before. Miss Ivors is also a friend of his and he has been pressed by her about the lacklustre interest she felt in his country. This speech, a public action, would also help Gabriel to break free from his lonely monologue, as it would give him confidence and allow him to be involved with those who were listening. Cosgrove also mentioned that Gabriel’s self-consciousness would be distracted by being with his spouse. Gabriel’s self-consciousness was evident on the surface. He declared that he would move on and not dwell on his past. The speech focuses on the future generation, but also acknowledges past events. Gabriel’s speech does not sound self-conscious, nor narcissistic. Yet in the next scene, he returns to thinking only about himself.
Gabriel’s narcissism is best shown in the scene where Gretta shares with Gabriel her thoughts at the hotel. Gabriel becomes angry as he learns that Gretta had already loved someone else before him. Gabriel, instead of comforting his wife, is angry. He then compares himself to Micheal, which diminishes his self-image. Gabriel was right to notice his wife’s different emotions from the moment they heard the music at the party, until the time they reached the hotel. It was only to his benefit. It fueled his imagination. In his own mind, he imagined a place to which he could also escape with his wife. Gabriel not only uses his mind to process information, but he uses it as a way to escape reality. Gabriel is in control of everything, as all the thoughts are his own. It’s an escape world that he can control and no one else’s input is important.
Gabriel remembers Michael Furey buried under the snow in a tomb. He then turns his attention inwards and begins to dissect his relationship with Gretta. The comparison isn’t to Michael but the love he feels for Gretta (Joyce 22). Gabriel’s self-consciousness is evident until the final page. It is only on a more profound level.
Gabriel is almost selective in his attention to what’s going on around him. In the taxi, he was with his wife on their way back to their room after the party. He noticed that his wife changed her demeanor. He did not notice anything else. He missed her distress because his love for his wife was so strong that he had no time to notice. In fact, he even created a fantasy world for himself and his spouse to escape. Although he asked his wife’s input on the escape, he still did not. His wife’s glance inspired him to create an imaginative escape. Gabriel became intrigued by his wife’s sudden change in mood and thought of their early love. The inner monologue continued.
Gabriel becomes angry the moment Gretta starts to be bothered. It appears that Gretta is not following what Gabriel wants. He becomes angry when he realizes, in the moment, that he’s lost control over the situation and it’s going in a totally different direction. Gabriel became angry. Gabriel needs to feel angry because he lost control over the situation. It’s also a bit narcissistic for you to be upset that your partner doesn’t agree with what you want.
Gabriel shows signs of narcissism. His wife, however, is suffering emotional distress. The narcissism is evident in several ways during his party. But it reaches its zenith at the next stop, the hotel.
