“The Dead” by James Joyce In “The Dead” by James Joyce, Joyce uses a winter setting to create his scene. Many writers use nature to show human nature and the human condition. Joyce's use of snow to illuminate characters and convey the meaning of events provides an analysis of themes throughout "The Dead." Snow has many interpretations. This can be a beauty, as it highlights vegetation and adds definition to their shapes. This can be seen as a symbolism of innocence and new beginnings. Snow can be considered the beginning or end of life, as it usually signifies the end of a life, as the plants it falls on die. It also means new life, because as it melts, it brings forth new life. Gabriel, the main character of “The Dead,” imitates snow this way. Gabriel is a man who really doesn't know where he belongs and who he should be. It represents a world covered in snow, a blank page. When he arrives at the party, the snow begins to cover his clothes oppressively. This is similar to his role as an Irishman. Which is for him a restrictive, cold and oppressive routine. He is even trapped by his cautious and inhibited personality. But his wife is the opposite. He is a free spirit, who loves adventure and wants more from life. This creates conflict for him because he has difficulty talking to women. They talk about Michael, his love when she was young, and how, even though he was ill, he traveled to accompany her on her journey through the snow and cold. Gabriel shows real emotions for the first time as she sleeps letting tears fall down her face and he looks at the whiteness of the snow. This shows the beginning of his status as a new man. The snow at the beginning of the story is seen as a diminution of life as if... middle of paper... us today, but Kipling seemed to marvel at the very idea that these people did not wouldn't jump in. thanks to their “civilizing” conquerors. Rather than bringing different people together, this work has simply created a greater divide between the two. It does not appear, however, that Kipling intended the poem to be seen as supporting the imperialist effort; in fact, a careful reading of the way he phrases the lines would reveal that Kipling was offering warnings to anyone who decided that such ideas should be implemented. He warns against laziness and profligate behavior, as they can quickly derail noble goals and intentions. He also warns of the need for patience and tries to convey that this type of work (raising a people towards a more civil culture) is difficult and can be quite tedious – as he writes, he acts of “the labor of the serf and the sweeper”. » and not “the sordid reign of kings ».”