... reinforces his views of Ireland. The title itself shows Ireland is dead and must reach an epiphany to exit its hopeless state. The first introduced character is a symbol of death. Lily's "pale complexion," (Joyce 856) is like that of a corpse, even her name is that of a funeral flower. The next characters introduced to the reader are the two "old women," (Joyce ... ) Aunt Julia and Aunt Kate, "quite grey [and] too feeble to go about much" (Joyce 855). Their niece, Mary Jane, who was quite on in years, lives with them. Since Lily has renounced marriage and men in general, the house has be...

• Word Count: 1200
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... shroud" foreshadows the miniature "deaths" that Gabriel will die over the course of the evening. Gabriel, like several other characters in the story, thrives on tradition. His unpleasant exchange with Lily in which he is told that the reason she is not planning to get married is because she feels that men are only interested in "what they can get out ... ...

• Word Count: 889
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School