James Joyce’s Dubliners is a famous collection of short stories, which introduces its readership to the life of Irish middle class people at the beginning of the 20th century. Especially the final of these short stories named The Dead, which simultaneously is the longest, received a brought reception. It is “the story of Gabriel Conroy who attends the Christmas dinner party of his aunts, the Morkans, accompanied by his wife Gretta” (Brannigan 56, 57). Here, he is confronted with his pro-British existance, in contrast to some nationalist attitudes. In the end, he discovers that his wife fell in love with a boy in Galway once, who died, and that their relationship is not, and never was, as passionate as he wants it to be. In general it can be said that “Joyce presents people in their relation to both nationalism and love” (Manganiello 94)
It arouse interest over seventy years after its first publication, when John Houston made it into a movie in 1987. This essay will analyze the changes that happened through the conversion from short story to film. Because the paper has a limited number of pages, the special focus will be on the women Gretta Conroy, who is next to her husband Gabriel the main actor, Miss Ivors, who stays in mind because of her strong feelings for her home country Ireland and Lily, a minor character but the first woman appearing in the story. After giving a description of their characters in the novella, the third chaper of this paper will deal with these women in the movie. It will be shown that they nearly all went through a kind of transformation and, in contrast to Joyce’s outline, were strenghtened by John Houston in various respects.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. James Joyce's Women in The Dead
- 2.1. Gretta Conroy
- 2.2. Molly Ivors
- 2.3. Lily, the caretaker's daughter
- 3. The Women in John Huston's Film
- 3.1. Gretta Conroy
- 3.2. Molly Ivors
- 3.3. Lily, the caretaker's daughter
- 4. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay analyzes the portrayal of women in James Joyce's short story "The Dead" and its subsequent film adaptation by John Huston. The primary objective is to compare and contrast the representation of key female characters across both mediums, focusing on how their roles and characteristics evolve from the written word to the cinematic screen. The analysis will specifically examine how the adaptation changes or strengthens the characters.
- The portrayal of women in James Joyce's "The Dead"
- The transformation of female characters in John Huston's film adaptation
- The impact of adaptation on character development and thematic representation
- The exploration of nationalism and its influence on character relationships
- The contrast between passionate and passionless relationships
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the essay by providing context to James Joyce's "The Dead," highlighting its significance within the collection *Dubliners* and its lasting impact. It introduces the central characters – Gretta Conroy, Molly Ivors, and Lily – whose portrayals will be the primary focus of the analysis. The chapter also establishes the essay's central objective: to compare and contrast the representation of these women in Joyce's short story and Huston's film adaptation, focusing on the transformations they undergo and the potential strengthening of their roles in the cinematic version.
2. James Joyce's Women in The Dead: This chapter delves into the depiction of the female characters in Joyce's original short story. It explores the complexities of Gretta Conroy's character, showcasing her internal conflicts between her present life with Gabriel and the powerful memories of her past love, Michael Furey. The chapter analyses Molly Ivors' sharp wit and nationalistic sentiments, examining her role in challenging Gabriel's pro-British stance. Finally, it briefly touches upon Lily, the caretaker's daughter, emphasizing her position as a minor character who nonetheless represents an important initial feminine presence in the story. The analysis of these characters provides a foundation for the comparison with their portrayal in the film adaptation. The chapter highlights how Joyce uses these women to explore themes of love, nationalism, and the complexities of human relationships within the context of early 20th-century Ireland.
Keywords
James Joyce, The Dead, John Huston, film adaptation, Gretta Conroy, Molly Ivors, Lily, Irish nationalism, gender roles, character analysis, literary adaptation, cinematic portrayal, love, memory, passion, adaptation studies.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Women in James Joyce's "The Dead" and John Huston's Film Adaptation
What is the main focus of this essay?
This essay analyzes the portrayal of women in James Joyce's short story "The Dead" and its film adaptation by John Huston. The primary objective is to compare and contrast the representation of key female characters (Gretta Conroy, Molly Ivors, and Lily) across both mediums, examining how their roles and characteristics evolve from the written word to the cinematic screen.
Which female characters are analyzed in detail?
The essay focuses on three main female characters: Gretta Conroy, Molly Ivors, and Lily, the caretaker's daughter. It examines their individual complexities and how their portrayals differ or remain consistent between Joyce's story and Huston's film adaptation.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
The essay explores several key themes, including the portrayal of women in early 20th-century Ireland, the impact of adaptation on character development and thematic representation, the influence of Irish nationalism on character relationships, and the contrast between passionate and passionless relationships.
How does the essay compare the short story and the film adaptation?
The essay provides a chapter-by-chapter comparison, analyzing how the characters are portrayed in both the original short story and the film adaptation. It highlights changes and strengthens in the characters' portrayals in the film version and how these changes impact the overall themes.
What is the structure of the essay?
The essay is structured into four chapters: an introduction providing context and outlining the objectives; a chapter analyzing the female characters in Joyce's story; a chapter comparing those portrayals to their cinematic counterparts; and a concluding chapter summarizing the findings. It also includes a table of contents and a list of keywords.
What are the chapter summaries?
The introduction sets the stage, highlighting the significance of "The Dead" and introducing the central characters. Chapter 2 delves into the depiction of the women in Joyce's short story, exploring their complexities and roles. Chapter 3 compares these portrayals to their representations in Huston's film adaptation. The conclusion summarizes the analysis and its key findings.
What are the keywords associated with this essay?
The keywords include: James Joyce, The Dead, John Huston, film adaptation, Gretta Conroy, Molly Ivors, Lily, Irish nationalism, gender roles, character analysis, literary adaptation, cinematic portrayal, love, memory, passion, and adaptation studies.
What is the overall goal of the analysis?
The ultimate goal is to understand how the adaptation process affects the representation of female characters and the overall themes of the story, examining the strengths and weaknesses of the cinematic portrayal compared to the original text.
- Quote paper
- Lena Spiekermann (Author), 2008, The Women in James Joyce's "The Dead" and in John Huston's filmic adaption, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/180523
