Gabriel tells himself that he believes in gender equality and in the abolition of class distinctions. Gabriel does not realize that he offends Lily again here, but it is important to note that he assumes that a small sum of money will buy him forgiveness because Lily is poor. Again, because the maid is not wealthy, Gabriel assumes that a single coin will repair the damage done by his offensive remark. To fix his mistake, Gabriel “ a coin from his pocket” (6) and gives it to Lily. The fact that Gabriel colours strongly supports the fact that he is ashamed of what he said, but also realizes that he is more conservative and sexist than he used to think he was. After Lily replies “with great bitterness,” Gabriel “colour as if he felt he had made a mistake” (6). There is also arguably some sexism to this assumption Gabriel may believe that because Lily is a woman she cannot survive alone and needs a man by her side. This assumption suggests that Gabriel does not think that members of the lower class have a very high potential. Here Gabriel implies that because Lily is not getting an education and that she has little money, her only resort is to find a man who will marry and support her. Gabriel then tactlessly states that he supposes he will see Lily at her “wedding with young man” (Joyce 6). During the exchange, Gabriel asks Lily whether she is still in school, to which she replies that she is not. The fact that Gabriel speaks to Lily can be perceived as evidence that he does not support class distinctions. Gabriel starts a conversation with Lily, which would have been unusual at the time given the gap between their social classes.
When Gabriel first enters the Misses Morkans’ house for their annual dance, Lily, the maid, greets him and helps him remove his coat and boots. However, through an analysis of Gabriel’s conversation with Lily, his speech at the dinner table, and his thoughts when observing the snow falling all over Ireland, one can argue that Gabriel ultimately alienates himself from his modern ideas.ĭuring Gabriel’s conversation with Lily, the assumptions he makes about her due to her gender and social class lead him to realize that he may not be as progressive as he would like to be. Despite being surrounded by a rather conservative family and group of friends, Gabriel identifies himself as progressive, does not believe in class distinctions, and promotes the idea of leaving Ireland to explore the modern world.
Gabriel, the main character in “The Dead,” is a member of the Irish upper class in early twentieth-century Dublin. James Joyce’s “The Dead” explores the theme of being alienated from one’s self.
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