What do you make of the fact that we learn a great deal about Gretta’s youth at the end of the story? How does this change your view of Gretta and her relationship with Gabriel?
Gretta was left in deep thoughts after Bartell D’Arcy sang “The Lass of Aughrim”. While Gabriel was excited to finally spend the night together with Gretta at the hotel, Gretta did not share his feelings. While he was thinking of their memories together in the past, Gretta was thinking about the young boy who used to sing the song. Gabriel’s relationship with Gretta is kind of stagnant even though they are married. Gabriel feels that they are not spending enough quality time with each other and do not feel each others soul. He hopes that the night at the hotel will make up for it but he instead learns of his wife’s story with another man. We learn of Michael Fury of Gretta’s youth, who risked his life for her by standing out in the freezing cold just to see her when he was prohibited to. While Gabriel is jealous, he is also angry at himself for never having done something similar for Gretta. He has never shown his love for Gretta like Michael has for her. He feels like he can’t match up to him, even though he is dead. Gabriel feels like Gretta has thought of him throughout the whole relationship and marriage, and that is probably the reason why their relationship has not advanced. She is stuck on the past and they are unable to make memories in the present because of that. Gretta has also changed. In the beginning of the story, she just goes along with the flow and does not really have an active soul. At the end when she tells her story, she is finally letting her feelings out like an actual person. Gabriel also realizes he doesn’t know much about his wife, after just finding out about such an important event in her life. He realizes that he should take action and do something to give hope to their relationship.
I agree with your idea that Gretta feels that her relationship with Gabriel has stagnated. Gretta did not seem to play much of a role at the beginning of the story, whereas the end was heavily focused on her youth. Here we learn that Gretta and Gabriel’s relationship is not as great as it seems. I think it was interesting how you viewed Gabriel as a jealous person. This puts Gabriel in a very sad situation because no matter what he does somebody else has given their life for Gretta. He may seem stuck because his love for Gretta cannot compare that.
I agree with the idea that their relationship is rather, well, lifeless. They put on smiles and they don’t dislike each-other but there is no passion behind their actions and feelings. Gretta’s passion lies in another and Gabriel admits he has never felt such passion to go above and beyond for his wife. While he likes Gretta he comes to a realization that perhaps he doesn’t love her as he states, “he had never felt like that himself towards any woman, but he knew that such a feeling must be love”. Their relationship lacks the sparks that come with loving someone and can never compare to the love between Gretta and Michael even after his death.