"The Dead" Notes, A-block

• Emilie & Tiffany
  Gabriel’s relationship with Ireland:
• 188-190: “west Briton” comment
• lack of pride for his background
• embarrassed of his culture and his past
• 181: galoshes on the continent
• centering his whole life around England, rather than Ireland
• views himself as west of England rather than in Ireland
• Language ties one to one’s country
• Difficult to disassociate himself with Ireland, from the roots, but has difficulty doing so.
  
  Emma & Emily
• Disparity between the mood of the party and what is happening at it
• Political tensions
• Gender conflicts
  Boys want Mary-Jane to play, but don’t listen to her
  Reminiscent of Lily’s bitter comment
• Racial issue
  Freddy asks about black men singing, remains unanswered
• Religious conflict
  194-conflicts about the Pope
• For he’s a jolly good fellow, unless he lies
  Gay mood, but lies under the surface
• 188-189 Miss Ivors: diction is warm and gentle, but her character is aggressive and probing.
  Description contradicts her actual behavior
  
  Lauren & Ilana
• Gender Behaviors
• Women are given entertainment jobs
  Performing
  Taking care of food
  Hosting
• Men are sitting around drinking
• Gabriel cut the goose, a bit more respectable
  Sits at the head of the table
  An important job
• 195-196 shows women as inferior
  Miss Ivors plans to walk home alone, which is thought ridiculous
• Gabriel’s insecurities are the root of all his problems
  Only happy when he thinks he is the best at something
  “an expert carver”
• contradicts himself all the time, initially thinks himself smarter than others: if you’re smarter than them, why are you so nervous around them all the time? You must care.
• Doesn’t want to associate himself with Ireland, but doesn’t want to be opposed to it either.
• Tries to cover up his insecurities with his intelligence
  
  Tori & Emily
• Awkwardness of the Ireland situation
• 188-univeristy question, Gabriel is at ease, as reflected in the diction
  but when speaking about Ireland, he loses control of his emotions, and reveals a negative attitude towards Ireland
• doesn’t respond to Miss Ivors’ questions
• trying to detach himself from Ireland, doesn’t fit in with the rest of them
  
  Shelby & Emma
• Gabriel has a mini transition
  submissive to dominant
• 192—disengaged from conversation, and dreaming about being in the cold
• evidence of Gabriel’s paralysis
• would rather be outside?
• Fingers are trembling
• 198—he sat to eat and took no part in conversation
• before was uncomfortable not being a part of the discussion
  he is in control at the head of the table and giving a speech
  carves the goose boldly
• also tries to dominate his relationship with his wife
  tries to speak on Gretta’s behalf, and also disassociating her with Ireland
  
  Allison & Tenaya
• The Snow
  177—tries to scrape all the snow off him, covered in layers
  192—wishes he could be outside
• he is never satisfied and wishes always for what he doesn’t have
• 179 the party is indelicate, but later his shoes are said to be loud as he walks down the stairs
• only satisfied when he feels like he is superior
• he’s a book reviewer—every time you change a book, you change the world that you are living in
• parallels the way he travels—always wants to be somewhere new or different from Ireland
• never wants to deal with a situation for longer than he has to