376: The Dead by James Joyce

The boys review Crowhill's 2023 Christmas beer, then discuss a short story from James Joyce. Pigweed starts off with some biographical information about Joyce, and how "The Dead" fits into his collected works. The story was finished in 1907. Gabriel Conroy is the main character, and we see some of the action through his eyes. The whole story takes places in one snowy evening. It might have been the feast of Epiphany. The hosts have an annual musical celebration. Joyce sets up a lot of expectations for possible tension that never come to fruition. The actual tension doesn't appear until fairly late in the story, and it's completely unexpected. Conroy is the responsible man at the party. He carves the goose. He sits at the head of the table. He gives a speech. He's a kind, educated man who is sensitive to other people's needs and does what's expected. Half way through the story you're wondering when people are going to start dying. It is "The Dead" after all. But there are no calamities. The role of death and dying only comes out at the very end. Gabriel's wife hears a song that reminds her of a long lost lover, which we only learn at the end. We also learn that the man is dead.