• Michelle & Dian
  Gabriel’s self imposed awkwardness
• Distances himself from others
• 192-pleasant outside, alone, there
  would rather be alone by himself rather than with others who like him, and want him around
• 190 after encounter with Miss Ivors, goes away to a remote corner of the room
  wants to escape
• similar to the situation with Lily, he could’ve lessened the awkwardness, but he stays focused on it and increases it
• Also stays fixated on Miss Ivors, and her awkward comments
• At times is afraid to speak up and say what he means
• The only thing that he is passionate about is on 189, and relates to his distaste for Ireland
• This sole exclamatory seems out of sync with the rest of his comments
• He previously isn’t asserting himself (murmuring, trembling, etc)
• Grows more bold as people are enjoying his speech
• Move from outsider to insider
  Determined solely by the approval of the crowd
  A member of the Irish community when they think well of him
  Also, more confident after Miss Ivors leaves
  Thought she was trying to embarrass him.
  
  Danielle & Sam
  Gabriel’s desire for control
• 197 the Goose
  he’s at ease because he is an “expert carver’ and he is at the head of the table
  likes to be in control of the situation
• with lily and Miss Ivors he is out of control
  the result is that he acts oddly, runs away, raises his voice, etc.
  aware of the fact that he’s been weird, thinks of it, and then tries to make up for his mistakes
  gives Lily the money, offers to walk miss Ivors home
  his effort to try to regain control
• Tradition seems very important
  Ties in with the age of the aunts
  people also seem to avoid making references to death
  187 he never says his mother is dead, though she is
  further evidence of his want of control, wants to view her as he wants to view her
  
  Katrina & Clare
  Gabriel’s relationship to Ireland
• still concerned with his reputation amongst the other guest
  but wants to distance himself from Ireland and Irish culture
  He says he is sick of his own country, but he isn’t sure why
  Make a lot of references to English things, culture, etc.
  Furthers the disconnect between Gabriel and Ireland
• “The West” of Ireland seems like something that is looked down upon
  wants to stay closer to England
• Analogy-
  Gabriel:Guests::England:Ireland
  Feels disconnected from people of his own country.
• Awkward when discussing his bicycle tour abroad
  Hasn’t given much thought to his own country
  
  Maia & Grace
  Gabriel’s relationship to Ireland
• 202-203, his speech
  His speech reveals his lack of loyalty to his homeland
  His speech appears to praise the land, its hospitality
  “jealousy” reflects malevolence, seems to contradict the hospitality he praises
• qualifies his compliments to Ireland as things that might not always be true
• Also discusses what the new generations are lacking
  189-sick of his own country
  because Ireland is losing its hospitality, he is less fond of Ireland?
  Hospitality= a failing?
• As he insults Ireland, he also insults the guests at the party “victims”, inability to change, etc.
  Want to leave Ireland is further evidence of his distance
  He suggests he’s often been away from Ireland
• “hardy murmur” vs. “shot through Gabriel’s mind that Miss Ivors was not there”
  everyone else is thinking about Ireland, he is thinking about how Miss Ivors might be judging him
  suddenly confident when he notices Miss Ivors is not there
  
  Stefanie & Hannah N
  Irony of Gabriel’s speech
• at start of story, he is distancing himself form the snow
  192-longs to be in the snow, and outside
  ironic that he has shifted his attitude so quickly
• 204 discusses camaraderie, but he seems to be distancing himself from others.
  Better to be outside than being with family
  But in speech, he says the opposite of how he feels
• 204- “I will not linger in the past”
  also reflects his feelings about Ireland—the past is where one comes from, and if he doesn’t want to linger on it then it’s almost as though he doesn’t want to acknowledge it. Also contrast what he asserts in his speech
  
  Ayanna & Jessica
  Tradition & Routine
• Kate and Julia are the ones who seem concerned with routine and tradition
  They want the stability
  196-“where is Gabriel?” he is the only one who can/should carve the goose
  and they’re nervous and despaired when he isn’t there
  175-describes the consistency of the party, the way things are always the same every year
  diction assumes consistency and repetition
  179-hair braided in the same way, always sing, always late, etc.
  Gabriel seems to try to cater to Aunt Julia
  182 Always better to have Gabriel around
  179 Wants the speech to be well recognized
• His speech could also be catering to the aunts, since it seems not to reflect his real feelings
  176 Outside of the party, the piano lessons are also evidence of routine and repetition
  same food
• Ties is with theme of paralysis
  176-contrast in the refusal to accept back answers, rather than having things that must be done.