Feminism And Negative Female Stereotypes In The Dead By James Joyce

Are women entitled to a filled seat a gentleman is occupying? In public transportation, there is a subliminal social rule that men should give up their seat to a standing woman. Most men and women both want equality between each other. Yet there are still many double standards. Feminism is not the belligerent opposition of men. Sincerely, feminism is the desire to have the same treatment in society parallel to men. Should certain expectations of active traditional mannerisms be lowered to keep neutrality between both sexes? The dead is one of the various stories included in the publication called “The Dubliners”. The main protagonist of The Dead is Gabriel Conroy. Gabriel’s many realizations make him conclude he is simple-minded when he processes the importance of life, and relationships. The Dead unconsciously reveals negative female stereotypes and acts of feminism.

Elderly sisters Kate Morkan, and Julia Morkan are hosting their annual “Misses Morkan’s Dance”. Lilly, the caretakers’ daughter strives to tend to the incoming guests. The extravagant event included; Family, Julia’s choir peers, and former music peers. Kate Morkan and Julia Morkan are sedentary residents of Usher Island. Their niece Mary Jane as well lives with the Morkan sisters. Gabriel and his wife Gretta arrive late. The sisters anticipated Gabriel’s arrival. Not only because Gabriel was their golden nephew, but because they were matter-of-fact Freddy Malins would arrive “Screwed”. When Freddy Malins is drunk, he is difficult to manage. With Gabriel, the manageability of Malins is made easier. While Lilly tends to Gabriel as a guest, Gabriel mentions the possibility of a future wedding. “I suppose we’ll be going to your wedding one of these fine days with your young man, eh?”. Lilly found his comment distasteful. Sharpy Lilly stated, “ The men that are now is only all palaver and what they can get of you”. The interaction left Gabriel unnerved, his nervousness piles as he recites his speech for dinner. Gabriel worries that he should keep a modest tone. Gabriel fears others will personify him as narcissistic. He tries to not brandish the fact he is school educated. Since his interaction with Lilly was not pleasant, Gabriel wants to make a better impression with everyone else. Freddy Malins arrives and shortly is inebriated. Gabriel’s anties send him to promptly check on Malins.

Shortly after, Gabriel starts dancing with Miss Ivors. Gabriel is a writer for the “Daily Express”. The Daily Express is a traditional paper with the inclusion of Unionist inclination. Given that Gabriel uses his initials under his publications, Miss Ivors discovered Gabriel is the author. Ivors satirizes Gabriel as they dance. Gabriel did not take to the mockery. Miss Ivors noted Gabriel’s negative reaction, in the form of truce Ivors pleas for Gretta and Gabriel to attend the Alan Isles. Gabriel declines. Gabriel proposed he will attend another continent with friends for a cycling getaway. Ivor’s questions why Gabriel tours foreign continents versus the soil he inhabits. Gabriel emphasizes he wants to be in connection with various languages. In rebuttal, Ivors states he should keep a square on his own. Gabriel’s language is Gaelic. Gabriel refutes and says Gaelic is not his language. Ivors continues to berate Gabriel with questions making Gabriel exasperated, and uncomfortable. Gabriel’s nervousness swells as people watch them conversate, he tries to find the proper way to answer. Miss Ivors called Gabriel a “West Briton”. Gabriel annoyed at their conversation felt Ivors tried to make an ignoramus of him.

Gretta questioned what the conversation between him and Miss Ivors was about. Gabriel explained Miss Ivors invited them to vacation. Gretta was thrilled at the idea. Frigidly, Gabriel stated Gretta may go on her own accord. Aunt Julia began to sing prepossessingly. The guest crowded, with quiet ovation. Aunt Kate begins discussing how Julia’s voice was squandered in the church choir. Julias singing halted when Pope Pius X prohibited women from singing in church choirs. Aunt Kate rambles in conflicted ideas by the Pope’s decision. Kate first states the decision was “not just”. Afterward, Kate says, “O, I don’t question the pope’s being right. I’m only a stupid old woman and I wouldn’t presume to do such a thing”. Gabriel and Mary Jane try to convince Miss Ivors to stay for dinner. Gabriel pondered if Miss Ivors branched away because of their interaction.

After guests seat at the tables, a conversation abruptly begins about the opera. One of the characters encircling the discussion is Bartell D’ Arcy. Various individuals at the table start to undervalue some of the foregone. D’Arcy states the singers were paragons, despite skin color. The group included in their conversation topic of Mount Melleray. The purpose of this discussion was to explain human transience. The time of Gabriel’s speech shortly began. Gabriel’s speech brought tears to his Anties eyes. The dance was over, and Gabriel spots a silhouette at the top of the stairs. Eventually, Gabriel realized it was Gretta. “Darkness” is used a lot in connection to Gretta. Because in the dark most objects are unknown, James Joyce uses “Darkness” as a great reference symbol. Because Gabriel in readers will find out later, he does not know Gretta as well as he thought. Suddenly, someone begins to sing “The Lass Of Aughrim”. Gretta soaks in the song longingly but in sadness. Gretta sways inside her replaying memory. While finding transportation for him and Gretta, Gabriel thinks of all the warm sentimental moments in their marriage. He feels on this night he has relived all those moments all over again. On this night, both Gretta and Gabriel relived memories they were both very fond of.

Gretta and Gabriel arrive at their hotel. Gretta is still troubled in her sadness. Gretta is a world away from Gabriel. Gabriel tries to see what is her worry, and suddenly Gretta begins to emotionally explode. Gretta explains “The Lass Of Aughrim” made buried memories come alive. Gretta explains a Man she used to know sung “The Lass Of Aughrim”. Gabriel is upset that Gretta is crying over another man. Despite this, Gabriel tries to comfort Gretta and hide his upsetness. Gabriel asked Gretta if she is still in love with the man. Gretta stated they were in light romance previously before. Gabriel then asked when Miss Ivors proposed they go on vacation, was her reaction stemming from the possibility of going to see the man. Gretta emotionally stated the man was dead. The man’s name was Michael Furey. Gabriel feels so minor in Gretta’s life compared to Michael Furey. Gabriel as well feels like a counterfeit unworthy husband. Michael Furey dying for Gretta’s love is an act of passion Gabriel felt he could not match.

The criticism feminism in “The Dead” is used to present the negative female stereotypes of the early 20th century. With also the presence of feminism in the text. There is showing of the pressures, and divide between women among the society of extremely gender role enculturated males. Feminism in The Dead is not just acted out singularly by characters. But most importantly from interaction through argumentative conversation. Because some of the conversations are built off of distaste, and nervousness. That brings out the raw reactions of characters in some instances standing up for women. Out of the several, two great examples would come from characters Lilly and Kate.

During the early 20th century, men and women were traditionally enculturated when it concerns gender roles. A short briefing on what those gender roles would consist of would be the following. Men were expected to: be the breadwinner, mannerisms toward women (Ex: Opening doors for women), higher education, stronger involvement in politics. Women during the early 20th century more prominently women were expected to: bear children, get married, nurture family, tend the household, less involved in politics. These very traditional gender roles created a great divide of between men and women. Gabriel mentioned the possibility of a future wedding. “I suppose we’ll be going to your wedding one of these fine days with your young man, eh”. Lilly detested Gabriel’s statement with distaste. Lilly stated, “The men that is now is only palaver and what they can get of you”.

Kate discussed how Julia’s voice was squandered in the church choir. This was a result of Pope Pius X decision to exclude women from church choir. Because of how women of the early 20th century were expected to conform to the gender roles that acquired them to stay out of politics and men’s decisions. Kate wondered if the popes’ decision was appropriate. From Kates dialog mainly she felt a great sense of maddening inequality, feeling the need to speak her opinions for all women of the church. This is one of the great pieces of feminism in The Dead. “Aunt Kate turned fiercely on her niece and said: I know all about the honor of God Mary Jane, but I think it’s not at all honorable for the Pope to turn out the women of the choirs that have slaved there all their lives and put little whipper-snappers of the boys over their heads. I suppose it is for the good of the Church if the pope does it. But it’s not just, Mary Jane, and it’s not right.

James Joyce growing up in the early 20th century where men unknowingly dominated, still recognized the negative female expectations/gender roles. With The Dead when women protected their opinions they did it with strength. In a way, James Joyce has empowered women readers from James Joyce’s era of writing, and to the modern times of today. Not only did he recognize this, but also he was an advocate subliminally for people of color through his writing. “Because Freddy Malins explained, now I’d be curious to hear your opinion of him. I think he has a great voice. It takes Teddy to find out the really good things, said Mr.Browne to the table. And why couldn’t he have a voice too? Asked Freddy Malins sharply. Is it because he’s only a black”. Because of this James Joyce is more than a feminist. He is a man that has egalitarian values for humanity.

Why can’t men be “Menist” like some women are“Feminist”? Though men are always on the richer side of the opportunity table they too encounter many inequalities as well. James Joyce introduced the inequalities women faced, feminism and gave a great insight into the gender roles of his times. With the writing of The Dead, he brought readers into a very realistic and parallel world he once lived in. The Dead is a timeless short book that is highly relatable to today’s times. 

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