The Dead | Essays and Criticism

  • Understanding Mortality

    In the following essay, the author argues that Gabriel's epiphany allows him to overcome paralysis by giving him a deeper understanding of his own mortality.

  • Six Theories in the Bedroom of "The Dead"

    In the following essay, Garrett offers six perspectives on ‘‘The Dead’’ by applying the principles of six different literary theories.

  • Inner and Outer Perceptions in Joyce's "The Dead"

    In the following essay, Morrissey explores the conflict Joyce's characters experience when their ‘‘romantic inner perceptions’’ encounter ‘‘squalid outer reality.''

  • The Living in Joyce's "The Dead"

    In the following essay, Billigheimer discusses Joyce's use of contrasting images, such as cold and warmth; blindness and perception; and society and the individual experience.