Gabriel Conroy

Outer characterization

Gabriel Conroy is the main character in the short story “The Dead” by James Joyce. He is Irish and lives in Monkstown, a suburb in south Dublin. He is described as “a stout, tallish young man”, with a red complexion and black hair. He wears glasses and his eyes are “delicate and restless”. He wears formal clothing to the party, including a waistcoat and a hat. He usually wears goloshes over his boots.

Gabriel’s mother, Ellen Morkan, is the deceased elder sister of Julia and Kate. She was “serious and matronly” and “very sensible of the dignity of family life”. Gabriel’s father is T.J. Conroy, of the Port and Docks. He has a brother called Constantine. Julia and Kate consider Gabriel “their favourite nephew”. Gabriel is married to Gretta, and has two children, Tom and Eva. 

Gabriel has a degree from the Royal University. He is a teacher. He also writes a literary column as a book reviewer which appears every Wednesday in The Daily Express, for which he is paid 15 shillings. 

Inner characterization

Gabriel appears to love his family very much. He is considerate and attentive, paying special care to their well being, even to the point of exaggeration. Gretta mocks him about it, telling Aunt Kate and Aunt Julia about how he makes the children eat...