Question

Upon hearing the whole story about Michael Furey, and watching his wife cry herself to sleep, Gabriel is left alone (or is he?) with his thoughts. What are the conclusions drawn by him, and what is the significance of the snow at the tale's end?

Answer 1

In James Joyce's 'The Dead,' Gabriel reflects on his life and marriage after learning about his wife's past love, Michael Furey. The falling snow at the end symbolizes universality and paralysis, key themes in Joyce's 'Dubliners.'

Step-by-step explanation:

It appears you are referring to the character named Gabriel from James Joyce's story "The Dead" in his collection "Dubliners," rather than any of the provided text excerpts. In this story, Gabriel experiences a profound inner crisis upon learning of his wife's lingering love for Michael Furey, a boy who had died young. The story concludes with Gabriel reflecting upon his own life, his marriage, and the nature of life and death. As he does so, snow falls across Ireland, symbolizing a universal covering of experiences, the commonality of life and mortality, and perhaps the cooling of passions. This snow is a significant metaphor for both the personal paralysis Gabriel feels and the general state of paralysis affecting the characters in Joyce's collection.