How Does The Dead Affect Gretta's Death

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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. …show more content…

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

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