The Dead is a short story belonged to Dubliners, a collection of short stories written by James Joyce. It is the last in the collection.

The story setting is initially a traditional Christmas party in Irish society, after a hotel's room.

The main characters are Gabriel Conroy and his wife Gretta. Gabriel is a man of letter who has a position in the social background. Gabriel's characterization is made by his actions and ideas. He is at the attention's centre during the story, he is independent and autonomous ( he married Gretta without his mother assent), seems to have control of his life. Gretta is presented by Gabriel's point of view, she is coming from a country town and right from the start she doesn't respect her husband's will.

The story can be divided in different sequences.

The first part is when Gabriel's aunts are expecting him and his wife. It underlines the central position of these characters in the life of others characters. In this part Gabriel creates a inconvenience situation asking Lily, a servant, if she has a boyfriend and he receives a negative answer.

The second part concerns with the party. The is a outside setting (it is snowing) and a inside setting which is the house. The background of a traditional annual party refers to rite and myth of Irish tradition and culture. An important event is the conversation between Gabriel and Miss Ivors from which emerges that Gabriel wants to live Ireland and that they have a different vision of political ideology. The religious theme is developed after the dancing during the dinner which recalls the Last Supper in which Gabriel is associating to a priest.