"The dead" is a short story which belongs to James Joyce's novel "Dubliners". The title "The dead" remainds something linked to a mysterious situation reach of dark and obscure events.

The story starts with a description of the main characters ( Mrs Kate, Mrs Julia, Mrs Mary Jane, Mr Gabriel and his wife ) and with an introduction of the governess Lily. In addition in the following parts of the text the other characters are introduced and the writer provides the reader with an analysis of the setting, a dark gaunt house on Usher's Island. However, The novel carries on with the narration of the party organized in the house by Kate and Julia Morkan, two old sisters. In the central point Joyce alternates narration and dialogues making the language more fluent. Moreover the novelist with some phrases ( "The room had already cleared and from the back room came the clatter of plates and knives.", " Those who still remained in the drawing-room seemed tired of dancing and were conversing quietly in little groups.", " Gabriel's warm trembling fingers tapped the cold pane of the window. How cool it must be outside!" ) makes the atmosphere melancholic how the outside scenery , in contrast with the gaiety of the party.

In the last part of the novel, Gabriel and his wife Mrs Gretta become the main characters of the story. So the setting become an hotel's room in which there is an exchange of contrasting feelings between the two lovers.

In conclusion, Joyce adopts a third person omniscient narrator permitting to the reader to make a personal idea regarding to the characters.