Home > The Dead Summary & Study Guide > Themes
The Dead | Themes
Paralysis
When describing his intentions in writing Dubliners, Joyce said that the city of Dublin seemed to him the center of paralysis. By paralysis Joyce meant the inability to act, move, or grow beyond where one is spiritually and emotionally—the inability to live fully. In ‘‘The Dead,’’ Gabriel is paralyzed by his self-consciousness. He is self-conscious about Lily's bitter remarks on marriage and about what he should say in his after-dinner speech. When Miss Ivors accuses him of being loyal to the British, he tries to avoid confrontation. He doesn't...
[The entire page is 713 words long]
Join eNotes
The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:
Summary and Analysis – Themes – Characters – And much more...
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
- The Dead: Introduction
- The Dead: Summary
- The Dead: James Joyce Biography
- The Dead: Themes
- The Dead: Style
- The Dead: Historical Context
- The Dead: Critical Overview
- The Dead: Character Analysis
- The Dead: Essays and Criticism
- The Dead: Compare and Contrast
- The Dead: Topics for Further Study
- The Dead: Media Adaptations
- The Dead: What Do I Read Next?
- The Dead: Bibliography and Further Reading
- The Dead: Pictures
- Copyright
Related Topics
Tell a friend about The Dead at eNotes.
