The barren lives of the dead "One day he caught a fish, a nice big fish, and the man in the hotel boiled it to their dinner” (p. 191). Madame Malins did not know that these words from her weak old lips described so poignantly the insensitivity of the characters in James Joyce's Dead towards their barren lives. The people depicted in this short story represented a wealthy Irish class of the early 20th century, gathered at the Morkan sisters' home for an annual tradition of partying and dancing. Although all the characters had, at one point, the potential for a good life, the sad memories of the past and the despair that engulfed Ireland ended up boiling all true senses and desires into a boring stew , destined to rot. Particularly interesting is Gabriel Conroy, to whom Joyce singularly endowed a gift of introspection, even if this did not prevent him from becoming another undead. Gabriel, a respectable middle-aged professor and writer, wished to escape, but was unable to do so. look for one. It was this passivity and resistance to change, like “the beeswax under the heavy chandelier” (p. 186), that ended up solidifying in the wall to which he did not have the courage to face. oppose. He felt "a penny for his aunts" (p. 220), the congregation's hostesses, a victim of his own inability to "feel and show the excitement of a quick and safe flight" (p. 193). On the other hand, Miss Molly Ivors, professor of politics and academic equal of Gabriel, possessed this capacity to escape her obligations, since she left the meeting before dinner, "fully capable of taking care of herself" (p. 195). In this respect, Miss Ivors differed from the rest of the character... middle of paper ... He had been surrounded all his life by a "ghostly light" (p. 216) of sad memories and death, emanating from the hearts of people with whom he had had the closest contact, who ended up stifling his own identity “in a gray and impalpable world” (p. 223). All Ireland was covered with the "silver and dark" (p. 223) snowflakes of death, and the Mr. Brownes of the world, who recalled great singers long gone and hid their true meanings beneath faces false gallantry, were everywhere. All the characters in The Dead contributed to creating a viscous web that made escape virtually impossible for Gabriel, as "one by one they all became shadows" (p. 222) of the "region where the vast armies of the dead dwell » (p.223). They were all fish in a freezing pond, playing their part and waiting for the day they would be caught and boiled for dinner..