The Dead

The final story in Joyce’s ‘Dubliners’ collection, ‘The Dead’ tells the story of Gabriel Conroy and his wife, Gretta. While at a Christmas party hosted by his aunts, Gretta tells the story of Michael Furey, who had wooed her in her youth. However, Michael died at the age of 17, leaving her heartbroken. For Gabriel, this tale is something of a shocking revelation. Will he be able to reconcile himself to walking in Michael’s shadow? With one of the best closing lines in literary history, ‘The Dead’ was adapted for film, starring Anjelica Houston and Colm Meaney.Widely considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time, James Joyce (1882 – 1941) was born in Dublin. At the age of six, he was sent to the prestigious Clongowes Wood College, paid for by his wealthy father. However, Joyce’s father succumbed to alcoholism and was unable to afford for his son to return there after the first year. After educating himself at home, Joyce was eventually schooled at Belvedere College. After leaving University College Dublin in 1902, Joyce studied medicine in Paris. However, on hearing his mother was dying, he returned to Ireland. While there, he would read her passages from what was to be his first novel, ‘Stephen Hero.’