The Dead is a short story taken from The Dubliners written by James Joyce.

The episode is divided in three sequences: the party, the dinner and at the hotel.

The sequence starts with the annual party organized by Kate and Julia. Gabriel Conroy, the main character, a man of importance, makes a lot of impudence during the party, like when he asks Lily about her love life.

Instead of apologizing or explaining what he meant, Gabriel quickly ends the conversation.

During his dance with Miss Ivors, he faces her questions about his nationalist sympathies, but he doesn’t know how to answer appropriately.

Also the relationship with his wife Gretta which appears to be a very happy is not such easy.

The last sequence is the most important one because the epiphany finally shows.

So the Epiphany is the result of significant work on the part of the discoverer, and is only the satisfying result of a long process. Here, instead it represent only the discover of the hard truth.

In fact in this part Daniel realize his uselessness and that he doesn't know his wife well at all, having been married to her for years and never hearing the story of Michael Furey before.

In the years that he has been with Gretta, Gabriel never even thought to ask her about any past loves. He finally understand that the past doesn’t disappear but remains fixed in men’s life