The Dead 3

Life After Death James Joyce states it best saying, “Better pass boldly into that world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age” (p.143). Not only is he talking primarily about the death of relationships, but also that of literal death and other mortalities and the way they take shape. Gretta and Micheal probably represent the passionate passing best. Micheal Furey’s last visit with Gretta started with some …

…universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead” (p.144). Joyce probably had many intentions and interpretations for death. However the death represented in relationships and the connection between life and death seemed to greatly outweigh the other messages. Both perspectives of death have their diversity, yet keep one big parallel. And that is, sometimes you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.