The James Joyce short story The Dead greatly analyses the ideas of nationality and nationalism. In fact, writer Emer Nolan describes how nationalism plays a huge role in that it is opposed by the protagonist Gabriel in every way possible. Nolan suggests that The Dead is “unswayed by patriotism and represents a modernist anti-nationalistic form of thinking” (p.1, 13-14). Although he touches on a very important point about the anti-nationalistic mindset of the story, he fails to realize that Irish culture is also in fact sustained in this short story. Such a statement suggests that Joyce’s short story The Dead illustrates a contrast between preserving Irish culture and anti-national approach to Irish culture.
Molly Ivors is a direct representation of Irish culture and nationalism. What creates conflict in The Dead is the fact that Gabriel has no patriotism at all for Ireland, and Mrs. Ivors boasts about Irish culture. Molly and Gabriel begin conversation while dancing at the christmas party, and Ivors accuses Gabriel of having adopted too much that is English. Molly, who wears a modest dress and has a brooch with an Irish motto on it, advocates the return to the Gaelic language and an Irish chauvinism. When Gabriel talks of visiting the continent, Molly attempts to persuade him to visit the Aran lands, off the coast of Ireland:
And haven’t you your own land to
Visit,…and that you know nothing of,
your own people and your own country? (2644)
This remark from Molly represents an attempt to preserve what is the old Irish culture. Gabriel’s mindset is representative of anti-nationalism and devotion to english culture. This inability to keep up with English culture is something that Ireland has struggled with, for its culture has often faded into the shadows.
English culture and anti-nationalism to Irish culture is shown consistently through Gabriel as he refuses to embrace his own culture. Molly Ivors tries to smooth things over after getting Gabriel heated about embracing his own culture. She tries to pursue a change in thought by telling Gabriel to support his own culture, which does not end well. Therefore, she tries to smoothen things over by inviting Gabriel and his wife out to the Aran Isles for a group vacation she's putting together. Gabriel says he cannot go, and that he has already planned a cycling trip with his other buddies. Molly asks why he vacations in foreign countries before he's seen more of his own land; he speaks of keeping in touch with languages. She tells him he has his own language to keep up with: Irish (Gaelic, but called Irish by the Irish to emphasize its rightful place as the national tongue). Gabriel replies by saying it is not his language; ["Well," said Gabriel, "if it comes to that, you know, Irish is not my language”] (2644). Miss Ivors continues with her difficult questions, irritating Gabriel. He is especially nervous about how he responds to Molly since the entire family at the party is listening. As they continue dancing, Ivors tells Gabriel she is ashamed of him, and that he is a West Briton (an Anglo-Irishman who favors Ireland remaining a colony). As the party continues, tension is rising, and this conflict between Gabriel’s anti-nationalism and the rest of the family becomes more apparent.
The discussion between Mrs. Brown and Mr. D’Arcy at the dinner table demonstrates a confrontation between Irish nationalism and anti-nationalism. As the family at the table talks about the current opera company at the Theatre Royal, Mr. Bartell D'Arcy is among those discussing the current singers. Freddy, the family alcoholic, makes strange conversation. When some of the guests belittle the current singers in favor of the singers of yesteryear, Mr. D'Arcy says that the singers now are as good as ever. It's just that all talent goes to the continent, and there are foreign singers who at least equal the Irish singers from back in the day. Mr. Browne, somewhat ridiculously, says he doubts it;
Oh, well, said Mr. Bartell D'Arcy, I presume there are as good singers
today as there were then. Where are they? asked Mr. Browne defiantly.
In London, Paris, Milan, said Mr. Bartell D'Arcy warmly. I suppose
Caruso, for example, is quite as good, if not better than any of the men you
have mentioned. Maybe so, said Mr. Browne. But I may tell you I doubt it strongly (2650).
Mr. D’Arcy’s comment seems to cause disagreement between the others, as Mr. Browne spoke out in defense of Irish talent. Mr. Browne represents the preservation of Irish culture The Dead tries to achieve.
Gabriel being driven to kill himself is fueled by the attitude of those who surround him, not accepting English culture and attempting to influence him towards Irish culture. Throughout The Dead, Gabriel, looks beyond Irish culture and in so doing stands in contrast to the other family members. Much has been made about his desire to go to “France or Belgium or perhaps Germany” rather than visit within Ireland (Joyce 164), and for this he is attacked by Revivalist thinkers like Miss Ivors. Gabriel’s cosmopolitanism is well- documented, as is the Revivalism of other characters, particularly Miss Ivors. Ivors, as stated earlier, indeed attacks Gabriel constantly on the subject of his foreign interests and lack of appreciation for the Irish language. However, another character, Lily’s education and relationship status defines Irish nationalism in that it aligns with many other catholics of Ireland:
Tell me, Lily, he said in a friendly tone, do you still go to school?
O no, sir, she answered. I'm done schooling this year and more.
O, then, said Gabriel gaily, I suppose we'll be going to your wedding
one of these fine days with your young man, eh?
The girl glanced back at him over her shoulder and said with great
Bitterness:
"The men that is now is only all palaver and what they can get out of
you (2637).
Lily is so bland in her response to Gabriel that it leads him to question expression of her love for all things Irish that Gabriel is led to ask himself; “Had she really any life of her own behind all her propagandism?” (2650, 167). The Dead answers this question in that Lily did not, in fact, have much of a life. Lily’s description sets the stage of the setting that Gabriel must live in: one that opposes everything he stands for. The old fashioned, Irish Nationalist people in his family frustrate Gabriel. It is the ongoing tension between his anti-nationalism and their embracement of Irish culture that ultimately contributes to his breaking point.
James Joyce’s The Dead gives an in depth illustration of the ideas of nationality and nationalism. Furthermore, The Dead does an excellent job in demonstrating a clash between Irish culture (Irish nationalism) and anti-nationalism. One can even argue that the work of literature illustrates a contrast between preserving Irish culture, and preserving English culture. The Dead ultimately asks the following question; is preserving the old Irish culture unnecessary, and if so, is trying to bring back an almost deceased culture an impossible feat?
Sources Cited
Greenblatt, Stephen, and M. H. Abrams. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: W.W. Norton, 2012.
Nolan, Emer. James Joyce and Nationalism. Routledge, 2014.