Examine some of the ways in which gender, class, history or colonialism feature in shaping identity and personal relationships in James Joyce’s The Dead.

James Joyce’s, ‘The Dead’ is set in 1904 Dublin and speaks of an age that has seen better days. Ireland is still a colonial province of Britain Ireland and has had to endure a financial and economic decline as well as moral deterioration.

The Dead is built around two major events: an annual party at the Miss Morkans’ house which takes place in the Christmas season and the night Gabriel Conroy spends in the hotel with his wife Gretta. The theme of the story is Gabriel’s change, a change in his perception of himself, his love for Gretta and of his Irish background. It is at the party that we are introduced the Gabriel, an individual who becomes the main focal point in the story. Our initial impression of Gabriel is that he is self centred and selfish but as the story continues our feelings towards him evolve as he changes. Joyce paints Gabriel, his protagonist, as a supersensitive individual who lacks confidence in his own abilities, yet as with most insecure people, also c...