McCrea and Cheng have differing views on the role of identity within Joyce’s “The Dead.” McCrea argues that identity is incomplete because of the limitations of language whereas Cheng argues that the cultural atmosphere shapes identity. I, however, agree with certain aspects of both arguments. Firstly, I believe that McCrea’s focus on failed communication is needed to understand the nature of identity within “The Dead;” however, McCrea incorrectly blames everything on the failure of language, when the individual and society is also partly responsible. Therefore, I believe that Cheng’s argument, that the environment partly forms identity, is valid; however, he needlessly restricts the Conroys’ identities by directly comparing them to Britain and Ireland. I will use Cheng’s focus on a culturally formed identity in tandem with McCrea’s thematic focus on failed communication within “The Dead” to answer the question of why Gabriel Conroy’s identity fades at the end of “The Dead” (248). To answer this question, I will consider Gabriel’s personal thoughts about himself, others, and how he responds to each challenge he receives to his personhood.
First, we must discuss the state of Gabriel’s identity before it fades. Before it fades, he is misunderstood. This fact is seen when Gabriel has a conversation with Lily. During this conversation, Gabriel exclaims that “I suppose we 'll be going to your wedding one of these fine days with your young man” (197). Lily responds, with “great
by using imagery and other literary devices to appeal to the reader. This poem was created to help society realize that there is a much needed change with young men who lives are constantly ending due to gang violence. The poem focuses on an undertaker who specializes in recreating the natural state of dead bodies, ones that have been mutilated. The undertaker specializes in this recreation for a specific group of young men, “gang members”.
The circle of life is an ongoing loop of everything in the world. Just like a wheel, the circle of life goes round and round. The circle of life never stops, and even though someone might try to, it will not stop. Life and death is the circle of life. In Edgar Allan Poe’s “Spirits of the Dead”, Poe introduces the reader to life and death. This is a very sorrow filled poem, with death and forgiveness. The way Poe uses Life and Death is part of what brings this poem to life. The use of life and death is exactly what Poe chooses to address as he uses imagery and personification of the life he once had and the love he once possessed. The literary techniques in “Spirits of the dead”, are the mood and tone of this poem. It shows what Poe really feels behind his words.
Issac Rosenberg 's “Dead Man 's Dump” and Wilfred Owen 's “Dolce et Decorum Est” both deal with the problem of watching one 's fellow soldiers die in combat. A common and major theme in both works is the representation of death at war in the two poems. Despite this commonality, while there are similarities, there are also differences in the poems ' representations of death on the battlefield. The difference in the poems ' representations of death on the battlefield can be seen in the contrast in their respective tone, usage of imagery, and form alongside the subject matter.
W.E.B. Du Bois has contributed greatly to contemporary sociological thinking because he began a conversation of what it means to be “other” in this American Society. In his conversation of what it means to be other he constructed and included three major concepts that continue to resonate till this day. His concepts include “the color-line”, “the veil”, and the “double consciousness” (Appelrouth and Edles, 269). Together, these concepts not only described past experiences of blacks in American society (e.g., slavery) but also continue to remind us that the relation of whites and people of color remains complex. In Du Bois’s own words, “the Nation has not yet found peace from its sins” (273).
Identity is pivotal to the story and holds its own innate power, but what is even more pivotal is that the Irish do not necessarily all share the same views. The Irish find their history very important because it is the foundation of the language. Hugh says, “It is not the literal past, the ‘facts’ of history, that shape us, but images of the past embodied in language” (88). It is evident then that Hugh finds the historical meanings of
The short essay contains a variety of literary devices that help the reader better understand Gabriel’s character. Joyce reveals in the beginning how Gabriel is observing a woman that is sleeping. The speaker also utilizes the literary device of imagery to set the setting and appearances of the woman. The third point of view contributes to Gabriel’s observant character, as well as the diction, syntax, and motif.
All of his loved ones came together and shared with him what they would say at his funeral. His sister-in-law’s poem and all the other sentiments his loved ones had to say about their time with him touched Morrie. I love the idea of a “living funeral” and if I were in Morrie’s shoes I would love to have one as well.
Gabriel, the protagonist in Joyce’s The Dead, also possesses many of the alienated characteristics that Kurtz demonstrates. Unlike Kurtz, Gabriel continues to remain in the civilized world, but still finds himself being isolated. On the surface Gabriel appears to be a reliable and content young man, but underneath his exterior lays a misunderstood and very lonely individual. Gabriel’s own recognition of his isolation is
He feels judged and misunderstood by family and friends. The “Feelings of Alienation” is seen in at least two conversations that Gabriel has. First, when tries to talk to Lily. She becomes angry when he suggests she will be getting married, since she is no longer in school. Gabriel is confused and embarrassed by her response.
Tormented by the devastation wrought by World War I, individuals across the world struggled to communicate their experiences, thoughts, and sorrows in their fragmented societies. Authors such as James Joyce, T.S. Elliot, and Virginia Wolfe gave voice to these individuals through their implementation of a stream of consciousness writing style that became a key feature in the modernist literary movement. In his short story “The Dead”, the final tale in his collection Dubliners, James Joyce represents the struggles of a well-respected figure whose depression and low self-esteem causes him to agonize over an annual speech he gives and interferes with his ability to communicate his desires to his wife. Similarly, in his poem, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” T.S. Elliot illustrates how the anxiety a man faces over how he will be interpreted by others impedes on his desire to communicate. Likewise, in her novel Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Wolfe’s depiction of the anguish war veterans’ suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) deal with in their ardent desire to communicate exposes the darkest ramifications of the war. These authors in modernist literature demonstrate the inhibiting effects of mental illnesses on an individual’s ability to communicate, resulting in their societal alienation.
The idea of delving deeper into the psychosis of Gabriel may aid the reader by creating a richer and more fulfilling picture of his character; conversely, stressing knowledge about the context of the period is also important. The article holds a plethora of knowledge on the theories used to analyze "The Dead"; however, the reader thinks that the author leaves out potentially enlightening information about the importance of background information. Such information would include international events, historic events on the continent to which the story is taking place, and influential events in the author’s life. These would help the reader to understand the characters a little better by showing, for example, why Gabriel might be insulted at Miss Ivors calling him a “West Briton” (Joyce 303). He is insulted due to the poor political connection that Ireland and England have, meaning, that Miss Ivors, essentially, calls
In the poem Lady Lazarus, there are many images that invoke the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. The encounters that Lady Lazarus had with death both accidental and intentional resonates a dark and grim tone throughout the poem. Looking at the lines four and five, she makes a reference to the lampshades that were made out of the skin of slaughtered Jews by the Nazis. With this reference she wants readers to make that connection between her and the Holocaust victims. As we go down to lines ten through fifteen, she tells the readers to "peel off the napkin" referring to the white sheet used to cover corpses to view her face. She also describes herself having eye pits instead of eyes and "stinking sour breath". With those references, I interpret that as although technically she is alive, her body is almost dead. We get more of the gruesomeness of the speaker coming back to life in lines sixteen through eighteen Lady Lazarus states that the “grave cave”, which is symbolism of death, ate the flesh that was on her within her home. In line twenty one, she briefly compares herself to having the nine lives of a cat through a simile but in a much grimmer version by saying she has nine times to die. When Lady Lazarus refers to annihilating “a trash” in lines twenty three to twenty four, my interpretation of that statement is that she is speaking about death. Once a decade she comes close to dying. In effect, she is calling her life, otherwise referred to her body as a
As well as an incapacity to act, Gabriel demonstrates a fragile ego by constant internal examination after every interaction at the party. His first encounter is with the hostesses¹ maid, Lily. When he questions her as to whether she is going to get married anytime soon, Lily becomes angry at this intrusion into her life. Gabriel reveals this encounter "cast a gloom over him which he tried to dispel by arranging his cuffs and the bows of his tie" (Joyce 2348). Instead of wondering why she is upset by the comment, he views the situation from only his point of view. He wonders what he did to upset her, whether he used the
The film “Dead Poets Society” takes place at Welton Academy in 1959. The film starts with a traditional ceremony to start off a new semester for seniors at Welton. At this ceremony it’s established that there are four pillars of ideology that the students must follow: excellence, honor, tradition, and discipline. The headmaster of Welton, Mr. Nolan explains that these ideologies have made Welton, one of highest esteemed prep schools in the Untied Stated. At the end of the ceremony, the new English teacher, John Keating, is introduced. Mr. Keating was an honor graduate at Welton and has returned from teaching at Chester School in London. The film then introduces the characters that later make up the dead poet society. Neil Perry, Knox Overstreet, Charlie Dalton, Richard Cameron, Meeks and Pitts which have been going to Welton for years. Then, a new student shows up, Todd Anderson. On the first day of class Mr. Keating explains the most important statement in the film "cape diem" this translates to "seize the day". Keating’s unorthodox teaching methods leads to the bottom line of this film that the students should act as individuals, think for themselves, and "live life to the fullest".
The combination of how the subject matter is conveyed by the narrator, and the emotions which are built through poetic devices contribute to constructing the message the author intended for each poem. Throughout Drummer Hodge, Hardy appears to express the idea that dying in battle is no way to achieve immortality through the memory of others, as every death is unnecessary and soon forgotten to the land. He frequently infers that Hodge is consumed by the landscape, becoming a part of it as he slowly loses everything he was. Hardy reinforces this idea that a soldiers death is meaningless and not at all remembered, by cleverly turning the phrase, ‘being laid to rest,’ which indicates the care and effort put into burring the deceased, into one which demonstrates the meaninglessness of his death. This can be seen in the first line of the poem, “They throw in Drummer Hodge, to rest,” where he is not laid to rest, but thrown illustrating the fact that the soldier is totally disregarded and not remembered in any significant way. Brooke however, constructs a romanticized message of remembrance and honour for the soldier. The Soldier seems to convey the message that death in battle is an honourable death, which serves to repay a man’s homeland for all it has given him, an action for which, he will be remembered. He continually refers to the transformation which occurs upon a soldier’s death, entailing the change of the very soil he falls on, to English soil. This implication