In “The Dead” by James Joyce, the character Gabriel is revealed by symbolism and imagery throughout the story. In the passage Joyce uses symbolism to represent how Gabriel’s marriage is with his wife. For example, James Joyce states, “One boot stood upright”, and “fellow of it lay upon its side”. This represents how his marriage is in shambles. When the author states, “A petticoat string dangles to the floor”. It symbolizes how unstable Gabriel’s marriage is. The author also uses imagery to show how Gabriel’s marriage is a dark part of his life. In the passage Joyce states, the following, “The blinds would be down down”. This gives the reader an image of a dark room, and how that represents his marriage. James Joyce also gives the reader
