Characters
The main characters in the short story “The Dead” by James Joyce are Gabriel Conroy, an Irish teacher and literary reviewer, and his wife, Gretta.
The other characters in the story are Gabriel’s aunts, Jane and Kate, their niece, Mary Jane, Lily, their caretaker, and the guests at the party. Among the guests, Freddy Malins, his mother, Mrs Malins, Mr Browne, Miss Ivors, and Bartell D’Arcy, the tenor, make brief appearances. Each character has their own background and personality and is given a unique voice. Most characters are supposed to be representations of the Irish middle class at the beginning of the 20th century.
Gabriel’s interactions with the other characters, especially with Greta, who confesses to him an event from her past, contribute to his character growth and lead to his revelation at the end of the story.
You can read a more detailed characterization of Gabriel Conroy and Gretta Conroy in the following sections.