The dead

Gabriel feels superior to the other characters throughout the party, seeing himself as more intellectual and educated than the others at the party: 'He would only make himself ridiculous by quoting poetry which they could not understand'.

After the party, Gabriel is overcome with his desire for his wife, and is infatuated by her. He longs to be alone with her: 'The first touch of her body, musical and strange and perfumed, sent through him a keen pang of lust'

Subtopic

significance

Isolation is a huge theme within the dead. It is most evident after the party between Gretta and Gabriel. The atmosphere turns cold in the cab when the couple is left together, it is almost awkward as one is unsure of what to say to the other.

They are completely isolated from each other, they are in two different worlds. Gretta is obviously feeling alone and in despair, haunted by her young love. Whereas Gabriel is feeling quite content after the party, the only thing on his mind being his wife and his overwhelming desire for her. He doesn't pick up on his wife's mental anguish. They are in completely different worlds, both unaware of each other.

The importance

Gabriels epiphany occurs in the hotel room, as Gretta breaks down when she is reminded of her lost love Micheal Furey. Gabriel realizes for their whole married life she has been in love with a dead boy.

Gretta also has a sort of empihany, she comes to the realisation that she does not love her husband. She has been in love with Micheal since she was a girl. There is a here between the living and the dead-Michael Furey is dead but still alive in Gretta's memory whereas Gabriel is literally alive, but emotionally dead because he has never loved.

Gabriel is extremely bitter by the fact that he is second to a boy who is not even living, who has been gone for years. Gabriel percieves himself above society as an intellectual, and now here he is,somehow below Micheal, a prospect Gabriel cannot understand.

Gabriel realizes in the end that he is no different from the others at the party who he thought he was above. He is also a part of the living dead, he has no emotions, no passion and no love.