During the beginning of the story, Joyce clearly depicts a difference between Gabriel and the other characters in the story. Gabriel Conroy is established a character who is very patriarchal and self-absorbed. However, he is also a person who tries to avoid confrontations. For example after his conversation with Lily, Gabriel was “discomposed by the girl’s bitter and sudden retort”(4). He thinks that he is superior to Lily therefore, he felt as if Lily didn’t respond to him in a polite manner. Other characters such as Gretta has a very different mindset. Instead of being stuck in the past, she thinks in the present. One way the the characters similar is the idea of “death” in the story. While Michael is physically dead, Gabriel was basically dead in the inside when the found out the news from Gretta. In a way, death connects some of the characters in the story.
2 thoughts on “How does Joyce depict the differences between Gabriel and the other characters in the story? How are they similar and different?”
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I agree with the idea that the author makes it clear that there is a difference between Gabriel and the rest of the characters at the beginning of the story. Gabriel is characterized as someone who is more intelligent and almost an elitist compared to the other characters. I think seeing a more vulnerable side to Gabriel once he knows the truth about Gretta is interesting because he at the beginning the story Gabriel didn’t seem to be the type to be shaken or deterred by anything.
I agree with your analysis of Gabriel, that he has his own ideas about the world, and seems unchanged by other people’s attempt in trying to change his views. Perhaps he avoids confrontation because he knows his views are controversial and would rather not have them be out in the open. He gets uncomfortable in situations, like the one you bring up with Lily, where the unexpected happens, almost as if he is in shock.