How Does The Dead Affect Gretta's Death

In “The Dead” by James Joyce, Gretta is what truly defines depression. Since the beginning, we get a sense of sorrow. Everything is based solely during their holiday dinner. From the moment Gretta set foot in Gabriel’s aunt's house, they did not greet her, they separated her and Gabriel at the dinner table, and they do not care enough to include her in their holiday activities. Gretta seems to be very disconnected with Gabriel, yet neither of them make an effort to better their marriage. Overall, Gretta gives us the impression of wanting to be isolated.

In that moment, James Joyce wrote this story in relation to his life. For example, James was married to Nora Barnacle, but had an affair with Kitty O’Shea. Much like in the story, Gabriel was married to Gretta but sent out flirtatious remarks to Lily. He might have felt disconnected with Nora, in which he thought to make Gabriel and Gretta disconnected too, considering her heart belonged to someone else. It was no secret that Gretta and Gabriel were just not in love, totally isolated from one another.

Right before dinner was ready, the family sang a Christmas carol.

Without hesitation, Gretta claimed that she did not know the words. Over the course of dinner, she looked at everyone in Freddy’s point of view; when he said that Gabriel was “blind”, a sense of realization came to her. They were living an empty life together. He did not seem to realize that the one he was hurting the most, was Gretta. He thinks Gretta is insane for walking in the snow, completely unaware of the reason why she enjoys it. After the party, in their hotel room, Gretta mentions that she did know the carols. The only thing keeping her from singing, was Michael, her long lost

love.
At the hotel, Gabriel was very distant with Gretta. He watched her dig her face into a pillow, sobbing, and did not even bother to comfort her. He simply looked out the window and gave his own soliloquy about himself. He says, “I have never felt this way about anyone”, in which he was right because if he did, he would not have let Gretta die of a heartache. Michael was her one true love. He died in the rain, confessing his love for her, and ever since, Gretta has not been the same. Telling Gabriel about Michael, helped her release what she has been holding on for so long, relieving her of depression. The only other escape, was through death. “Snow is falling upon the living and the dead’, Gabriel says. He is expressing his life and how he feels that although he is physically alive, he is mentally dead. He feels nothing for anyone, while his family helps feed his ego-mania. Through Gretta’s death, she reconnects with both Michael and Gabriel.
Now that I have had some time to reflect, Gretta puts the melancholy in the story. From the very beginning, we can tell she is unhappy. Her marriage with Gabriel has seem to run its course. Gretta seems to be distant with his family, along as with him. Gabriel talks about her like she means nothing to him. He thinks she is crazy for going for a walk in the snow, unaware that it brings her comfort. If he were truly in love with her, don’t you think he would know what is going through her head? Why she seems to be so disconnected with him? During her final moments, she confesses her love for Michael. Even so, Gabriel has his back turned to her the entire time. After being so selfish, voicing his own thoughts, once he turns around, Gretta has passed. It is unfortunate she died from heartache; depression. In the contrary, she has finally reunited with her one true love.