The Dead

Perhaps I should clarify: I only wish to discuss the two ladies which I find to be the most interesting--Lily and Gretta. Both characters seem to have some degree of difficulty accepting their specific role as a woman. (Molly Ivors seems to be a well-adjusted, strong woman; in my view, she has completely rejected her role and created a new one.)

As a very minor character, Lily is only present in th efirst few pages of "The Dead." As the caretaker's daughter, she seemed to accept her role with grace and dignity. She was competent and her employers both found her to be useful. She has completed her schooling, so now she must marry. Gabriel emphasizes these expectations most notably. Lily's bitterness is apparent: her opinion of men is very low. She has no intentions of marrying at this point in her life. The audience has no knowlegde as to what spurned this bitterness, but Lily has no desire to follow the traditional path.

Early in her life, Gretta was at a crossroads. Her first love, Michael Furey didn't want her to move to the convent, but Gretta knew what her role was. She tried to explain what was expected of her and of him, but he did not want to live in that worls. Her death reminds her of the choices she made to accept her own social role. As a result, she has no love towards her husband.