How does Joyce change your expectations as a reader throughout the story? e.g. your idea of what the story is about and what kind of story you are reading might have changed at a few points throughout the story.

The structure of Joyce’s story keeps the reader’s mind curious as to what or who it’s really about. At the beginning, a reader may think Lily is the main character and her place in the story is critical to the plot and message. However, as you read on, other characters are introduced such as Gabriel who seems to take over your attention. The beginning seems like a light, joyful story about a family and Lily’s place in the story as the caretaker’s daughter. Once you meet Gabriel and see everyone’s concern with where he is you begin to wonder ‘Why is he so important? What is everyone waiting on him for?’ Reading on, at the dinner table, Gabriel’s way with words in his speech as well as a few descriptions given by Joyce we see themes of love and death. Instead of a light story, there’s a very in-depth thought-provoking underlying theme about life and death and love in between.