Vitality and death in The Dead In his short story The Dead, James Joyce creates a strong contrast between Gabriel, who is emotionally lifeless, and the other guests, who are physically aging and near death. Although physical mortality is inevitable, Joyce shows that emotional sterility is not, and Gabriel ultimately realizes this and decides that he must follow his passions. Throughout the story, a strong focus on death and mortality, a focus that serves as a constant reminder of our inevitable end to physical life, is prevalent in Joyce's selection of details. In the story, invincible death ultimately triumphs over life, but it brings a triumph for the central character, not a loss. Despite the presence of death, the characters' passions and individuality flourish in opposite ways, an irony that Joyce dares to make funny. Every year Kate and Julia Morkan, two elderly sisters, host a dinner at their home in Ireland for their relatives and music students. and peers. The two ladies, often called aunts because of their relationship with the main character Gabriel Conroy, make sure to throw a festive event filled with dancing and food, even though they are not wealthy. The story begins with the beginning of this party and we first learn about Lily, the youngest person in the story, who serves as the waitress. She is described as a growing girl, but also as "pale in complexion", indicating weakness and frailty. Even its "identifying name, that of the funeral flower, serves as a symbol of death". Joyce comically describes the girl busy with a "hyperbolic figure of speech ("running away"), which although figurative, is offered to the reader to be accepted 'literally'" (Benstock 165) alluding to impending death. ...... middle of paper ...... Gale, 1990. 239-245.Friedrich, Gerhard. “Joyce's 'Dubliners' Perspective.” College English (March 1965) vol. 26 no. 6. Rpt. in Twentieth Century Literary Criticism vol. 35. Detroit: Gale, 1990. 166-169. Handy, William J. "'Joyce's 'The Dead'". Modern Fiction: A Formalist Approach. Rpt. in Twentieth Century Literary Criticism vol. 35. Detroit: Gale, 1990. 183-189. Joyce, James. "The dead." The Dubliners. Rpt. in the Norton anthology of English literature. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. 2345-2373.Magalaner, Marvin and Kain, Richard M. Joyce: Man, Work, Reputation. Rpt. in Criticism of Short Stories vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 1990. 222-224. Walzl, Florence L. "Gabriel and Michael: The Conclusion of 'The Dead.'" James Joyce Quarterly (Fall 1966) Vol. 4 No.1. Rpt. in Criticism of Short Stories vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 1990. 233-239.