Gretta Conroy

Gretta Conroy is a character in James Joyce’s short story “The Dead”. She is Gabriel’s wife and the mother of his children, Tom and Eva. Gabriel’s mother opposed her marriage to Gabriel, believing that Gretta was “country cute”. This suggests she thought Gretta was simpleminded. Gretta is from Galway, where she used to live with her grandmother until she had to leave for the convent in Dublin. She had a brief relationship with a boy named Michael Furey, who is now dead, and Gretta is convinced that he died for her. 

At the beginning of the story, Gretta teases Gabriel about his excessive care for her and the children, making Aunt Kate and Aunt Julia laugh. This could suggest that she resents him for being controlling. However, she does not tell him directly, which shows they have communication...