Summary

The story “The Dead” by James Joyce takes place at one of the yearly Christmas parties hosted by Gabriel’s aunts, Kate and Julia Morkan, along with their niece, Mary Jane. Gabriel Conroy and his wife, Gretta, arrive late to the party. Gabriel talks briefly with Lily, the caretaker’s daughter, and offers her some money as a Christmas present. As the guests begin to settle, Gabriel is nervous about the speech he has to make later.

Mary Jane plays a piece on the piano which Gabriel does not enjoy. Afterwards, Miss Ivors approaches Gabriel and scolds him for writing literary reviews for The Daily Express, an anti-nationalistic newspaper. She tries to get him to visit local places in Ireland, but Gabriel refuses, saying he usually visits foreign c...