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The Dead

James Joyce

Start date: October 1, 2019

Finish date: October 31, 2019

Discussion: Short Story/Novella Collection

Why we're reading this: Short Story/Novella, October 2019
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Short Story/Novella Collection

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What Members Thought

Sep 15, 2020 Brenda rated it really liked it

I’ve not read any James Joyce yet and I saw that this story is « Often cited as the best work of short fiction ever written » so I was curious.

For me it was interesting. I enjoyed the telling of the friends and family that were so close and the love they all had for one another. I could feel myself at similar gatherings in my own life with a same cast of characters.

The story takes a turn at the end to bring us to the title and the crux of the matter. For me, as it didn’t show up until the very ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 24, 2015 Alex rated it it was amazing

But what makes it all dead? The party is a bad play that’s at the end of its run. Everyone has his role, everyone has his lines down. Freddy Malins will turn up drunk and cause a row. Garbiel will offer a present to Lily and she will at first refuse; he will protest that it’s Christmastime and she will modestly accept. Browne will take a sip of whiskey and say, “God help me. It’s the doctor’s orders.” And the boldest girl will respond with mock naivety. Sister Kate will express ignorance about s ...more

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Apr 20, 2020 Franky rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, 2020-reading-challenge, short-stories, ireland

Nearing eighty pages in length, “The Dead” is nearly a novella but has been identified (with good reason) as Joyce’s most popular and best story (as a part of his Dubliners collection). On the surface, this story is quite simple. An annual party is being held by one of the families and a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Conroy, are attending. As a reader, we take the vantage point and follow Gabriel Conroy as he arrives with his wife and prepares to make a speech. There is quite a bit of detail about the pl Nearing eighty pages in length, “The Dead” is nearly a novella but has been identified (with good reason) as Joyce’s most popular and best story (as a part of his Dubliners collection). On the surface, this story is quite simple. An annual party is being held by one of the families and a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Conroy, are attending. As a reader, we take the vantage point and follow Gabriel Conroy as he arrives with his wife and prepares to make a speech. There is quite a bit of detail about the place and time (it takes place during the holiday season) and what takes place during the party, but for the most part, the story centers around Gabriel and his relationship with others, his wife, even himself.

I have been thinking about this story quite a bit since reading it a few days ago. I do believe that this is one of the more remarkable stories I’ve read. There is so much power and depth. One of the amazing aspects of James Joyce’s “The Dead” is that there are so many layers of meaning and there is such depth and profoundness to this story that it is one a reader can come back to experience again. Perhaps a reader can discover something they might have missed on previous readings.

Not only this, but Joyce’s command of so many different elements—style, theme, symbolism, detail, richness of description and emotion—all come together in a perfect blend, especially in the story’s final pages. What is particularly amazing is Joyce’s ability to slowly move this story forward and lead the reader to this moment of revelation towards the story’s conclusion.

“The Dead” is a deeply reflective story with strong emotion and pathos, and a feeling of nostalgia and ambience; it will make a reader think long after the story’s final lines. I had to go back a few times and read the last pages again as I was thinking about it.

On a side note, I bought the paperback version with Thomas Fasano as editor. I found this version helpful because there are explanatory notes included and footnoted, which added quite a bit of background and meaning to the story as well.

The Dead is a really remarkable story, deeply reflective, powerful, and one that I would love to come back to. ...more

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Sep 15, 2021 Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... rated it really liked it

Shelves: classics, short-stories, european, read-in-2021

The Dead is a powerful story by James Joyce, that takes place during a party thrown by sisters in Dublin. This is a story that takes place in conversations and memories. The thing that makes the story work best is the way Joyce illustrates the impact that people can have upon one another, even long after they are gone. I loved the contemplative style, with the in-depth character development despite the short length.

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