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  • Essay / Desire to escape: analysis of “the dead”

    In the Irish Catholic society interpreted by James Joyce in Dubliners, the characters live in a world guided by “respectability”, but some are pushed by the need to s 'escape. Joyce depicts the reputed population as false and undesirable, and depicts his protagonists as the few who recognize and attempt to grasp opposing points of view. Nevertheless, in his somewhat pessimistic approach, Joyce concludes each story with an inevitable recourse to the world from which the characters had wished to escape. The most exemplary of this is “The Dead”, the longest and most multifaceted of all the stories, because it could undoubtedly be the climax of each previous narration. The only story in the collection with a distinguished ending, "The Dead" confirms that any attempt at escape will ultimately be thwarted to the detriment of "respectability", since its final character, Gabriel Conroy, attempts to escape, but in vain. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Joyce inserts subtle escapist language throughout the story. When Gabriel Conroy is first introduced, he removes his goloshes to reveal patent leather shoes. (p.202) This is notable for its reference to both the aspect of escapism and the aspect of respectability. Gabriel's patent leather shoes (shoes are a means of escape) are covered in snow by the goloshes. It is interesting to note that the mediums who could lead this man to escape are “covered” (“respectability”). It is evident that Gabriel is trying to distance himself from the typical mindset of the general public, as evidenced by his newspaper analyzes (which earned him the uncoveted title of "West Briton" by Miss Ivors (p.216) ) and other similar depictions of his "open-minded", liberal attitude. ("We usually go to France... to keep in touch with the languages ​​and partly for a change'" (p.216)), but it is nevertheless Gabriel who insists on the goloshes. “Goloshes!” » said Ms. Conroy. This is the latest. Every time my feet get wet, I have to put on my goloshes this very evening, he wanted me to put them on..." (p. 205). He demonstrates that goloshes are the new thing. "Goloshes... you don't know what Goloshes are? Gabriel says everyone wears them on the continent." (p.205) It seems that it is Gabriel who wants to escape, and yet he is the one who insists on “respectability”. He is a man who wears "gold-rimmed glasses" that "hide his restless eyes" (p. 203. He is restless and wants to escape, yet even his glasses are covered in "gold." (a coating made to look like gold, not even real gold, as if to show that "respectability", however desirable it may seem, is just a show) His desires to escape are masked by his own links to "respectability". When he is nervous or feels out of control in some area, he tries to "dissipate it by fixing his wrists and the knots of his ties" (p.203) or "patting his tie reassuringly." » (p.205) is the protection that Gabriel seeks from the The ideas of escape that he defends Gabriel's inexplicable fascination with snow is another tool used by Joyce to create an atmosphere of. unsuccessful escape. "Gabriel's warm, trembling fingers tapped the cold window pane. How cool it must be outside! How nice. it would be going out alone... the snow would be... forming a brilliant cap at the top... How much nicer it would be there than at supper. "(p.218-219). As Gabriel looks out the window (he is still inside,.