Literary Analysis Of The Dead By James Joyce

The Dead by James Joyce presents the peculiar character of Gabriel as the main character of the essay. Gabriel is an individual who is in his last stages of life and expects death at any minute. He no longer feels the same about living, and it is shown, though the point of view and the imagery utilized. One of the first literary devices utilized is the point of view which the essay is presented: third-person. For instance, the narrator recounts the events surrounding only Gabriel’s character which enables the reader to draw one’s own conclusions. During the beginning of the essay, it is shown that Gabriel is watching, what the reader can infer, his wife. He is thinking about the events of the night and the shares Gabriel’s thoughts. For example, the narrator says that Gabriel does not “like to say to himself that her face [his wife’s] was no longer beautiful.” This direct quote indicates that time has passed and they both have aged. Gabriel, therefore, is of an age in which he inclined that his wife is the most …show more content…
As he has grown old, he no longer feels entitled to be completely enamored and praise his wife, he does not fear death, but instead expected it, and he is apathetic to issues like the possible fight they had. As time continues, people can change and become different. They no longer have hope for brighter days because they seem to be trapped in the days of glory and triumph. Gabriel’s character embodies that at one point in time, one will be surrounded by death, and he chose to have it be the only event to look towards with a sense of apathy. James Joyce’s character demonstrates the final stage of life and the reality of it. Through the theme, point of view and imagery the reader is able to comprehend Gabriel, but one also will be able to discover that at one point in time, life is not such much joyful. It becomes a burden, and death can become one’s own