James Joyce, a prominent Irish writer, was known for his experimental and innovative literary style. He was a modernist interested in exploring the ways in which language could be used to convey complex ideas and emotions. His works are characterized by symbolism, experimental language, modernist themes, Dublin setting, and the use of stream of consciousness. In particular, his story “The Dead” is generally regarded as one of the essential texts of modernist literature and is praised for its unique style and deep insights into the human experience. It explores the themes of love, loss, mortality, religion, jealousy, politics, and the human desire for connection and understanding. The focus of this paper is to analyze the juxtaposition and symbolism used by James Joyce in “The Dead” to convey deeper themes and meanings.
“The Dead” is a short story written in 1914 and included in Joyce’s collection Dubliners. In this work, the narration is focused on Misses Morkan’s annual dance, where their nephew, Gabriel Conroy, arrives with his wife. Although there are several essential themes covered in “The Dead,” the most significant ones center on changes, including the confrontation between traditions and modernity, the refusal to chance, and the necessity to accept new events and ideas in order to move towards a better future. The purpose of this paper is to identify literary techniques used by the author in order to develop the story’s themes and underline their importance.
In general, the main device used by Joyce in this story to enhance the difference between generations, old traditions vs new viewpoints, and between things that should be left in the past in comparison to things that should be adopted is juxtaposition. In other words, the author contrasts events, ideas, and people in particular; the contrast between new and old lies within the framework of death and life. Gabriel Conroy tends to be traditional in his approaches to marriage, family, lifestyle, and the country. He believes that a young lady should want to be engaged and marry after finishing school. He has associated himself with Europeans trying to protect his position and underlining that Ireland is genuinely valued by respect and memory of its ancestors and traditions, such as “warm-hearted courteous Irish hospitality” (Joyce). However, he is opposed by the modern attitude of women towards men and marriage, the Irish nationalism of young people, and the discovery of the absence of total awareness of his wife’s life.
Overall, there are multiple juxtapositions in “The Dead” that represent the life of Ireland that remains paralyzed and the necessity of changes and their acceptance by people. Thus, snow, “general all over Ireland,” the aunts’ annual events, the same responsibilities of every family member, and the grey color prevalent in Aunt Julia’s appearance refer to death and mortality (Joyce). At the same time, the warmth and light of the aunts’ house, the presence of young people with innovative points of view, brown color, smiles, and changed melodies emphasize the presence of new life and hope.
At the same time, these images may also be perceived as symbols as symbolism is another literary technique used by the author. One of the most peculiar symbols used by Joyce in order to emphasize the contrast between life and death is the name of the caretaker’s daughter, Lily. In Christianity, lilies are regarded as the symbol of rebirth and purity – “in religious iconography, they often represent the Virgin Mary, and are also often depicted at the Resurrection of Christ” (Dibdin). However, at the same time, lilies represent mourning and grief, being the most popular funeral flowers. In “The Dead,” through her name and attitude to various aspects of life, Lily symbolizes the move from traditional viewpoints that may be dying to new approaches.
Another bright symbol of “The Dead” is Johnny, the grandfather’s horse. Gabriel retells the story of the Morkan’s grandfather and Johnny, who “came in sight of King Billy’s statue: and whether he fell in love with the horse King Billy sits on or whether he thought he was back again in the mill, anyhow he began to walk round the statue” (Joyce). On the one hand, it is a funny story about a horse who went round and round the statue for unknown reasons. However, King Billy’s statue is he statue of King William III who was William of Orange, the national leader of the Dutch United Provinces (Battle of the Boyne). In 1690, he defeated the army of the Catholic King James II in the Battle of Boyne, the largest engagement on Irish soil (Battle of the Boyne)., in this case, the horse symbolizes Ireland that “walk round” its past guided by European influence and it symbolizes the country’s paralysis and its people’s inability to accept changes.
Many critics have written about “The Dead,” praising its innovative use of language and deep insights into the human experience. Different researchers focused on the concept of epiphany and its symbolic meaning in Joyce’s work. Namely, Fashbaugh argues that “Gabriel’s epiphany, which is that both his marriage and life have been … dispassionate, helps to facilitate the transition from mimetic desire to the symbolic acquisition of the originary scene” (1). The critic states that Joyce often uses epiphany in his works, bringing characters to the point of an abrupt realization of truth. Fashbaugh makes a good point by emphasizing that the use of this literary technique is pivotal for the overall recreation of the scene and the protagonist’s feelings.
Other critics explore the main character’s spiritual development through epiphany. In this regard, Kelson Parks draws a parallel between Joyce and Gabriel, who disclose the truth and explore the world in similar ways. Kelson Parks states that “Gabriel in “The Dead” acts as a foil for Joyce so that he may find a solution to the discontent he is experiencing” (14). In this regard, the critic is right to argue that such realizations significantly impact both men’s lives and relationships.
Finally, other critics focus on the use of imagery in Joyce’s short story and its role in portraying characters and events. Nuhiu connects the concept of paralysis and the theme of snow in “The Dead,” highlighting that “the snow does not fall upon the dead only” since even the residents of Dublin are paralyzed (25). In this regard, the critic makes an excellent point by bringing the readers’ attention to the symbolism used in Joyce’s short story. The snow unites the strengths and the weaknesses of human nature and symbolizes mortality.
“The Dead” is regarded to be an outstanding short story. Its main themes include the mortality, death of traditions and old viewpoints, and the country’s paralysis that are opposed to new ideas, new approaches, and development. In addition, using the example of one particular person, Gabriel Conroy, the author demonstrates the necessity of openness to new ideas, events, and facts, especially when seemingly well-known and well-established things may turn to be completely and surprisingly new. For the development of identified themes, Joyce uses literary techniques, including juxtaposition and symbolism to contrast new and old and underlines the differences between the death of the past and the perspectives of the future and the related necessity to accept inevitable changes. In it is unclear whether Conroy is successful in the reconsideration of his values and beliefs; however, the events described in “The Dead” may be regarded as a successful start for his inner reflections and better understanding of the world and people around him.
To conclude, “The Dead” is a widely celebrated and critically acclaimed short story by James Joyce. It is characterized by a unique style that contributed to modernist literature and provided multiple insights into human nature. “The Dead” delves into a variety of themes, including love, loss, the inevitability of death, religious beliefs, envy, political issues, and the fundamental human need for connection and understanding. These themes are often interconnected and can be explored through the lens of the characters and their experiences. Juxtaposition and symbolism were used by James Joyce in “The Dead” to showcase the difference between the new and old outlooks on life. Critics have praised this work for its rich and complex portrayal of character and theme, as well as its use of literary techniques. Overall, The Dead has received widespread critical acclaim and is widely regarded as a masterpiece of modernist literature.
Works Cited
“Battle of the Boyne.” National Army Museum, Web.
Dibdin, Emma. “The Poignant Symbolism of the Lily Flower.” Town & Country, Web.
Fashbaugh, Martin. “Gabriel’s Epiphany and the End of Resentment: Religious Feeling in James Joyce’s The Dead.” Anthropoetics: The Journal of Generative Anthropology, vol. 27, no. 2, 2022, pp. 1-8, Web.
Joyce, James. The Dead. Dubliners, 1914. The Literature Network, Web.
Kelson Parks, Leah. “”Conscious of, but Could Not Apprehend”: Joyce’s Own Epiphany through “The Dead”.” Criterion: A Journal of Literary Criticism, vol. 12, no. 2, 2019, pp. 1-9. Web.
Nuhiu, Usamedin. “An Analysis of Themes and The Language of The Characters in James Joyce’s ‘Dubliners’.” Anglisticum: Journal of the Association-Institute for English Language and American Studies, vol. 9, no. 11, 2020, pp. 22-26. Anglisticum.