"The Dead"

Pages 188 through 190 seem to address the possible meaning of "the Dead" that the title conveys. In this passage Gabriel shows the reader a type of emotion previously unseen, that of his adoration for his wife Gretta. At the dinner his emotions appear to be geared towards himself and his worry of how others will perceive him. He does not believe his speech is adequate and even worries about "making himself ridiculous, quoting poetry they would not understand". Gabriel does not want these people, his family, to see him as conceited or acting as if his superior education is above them. However, it is with Gretta that Gabriel is able to exude his true emotions and it is also here that he his lack of confidence in himself is portrayed.
It appears that Gretta was the one person who fully understood him. His mother gave him an education and a lifestyle that allowed him to become the seemingly influential person that he is, but it appears that Gretta brought out something in him that was rarely shown. However, once she tells him about her previous love, a boy "who died for her", Gabriel becomes instantly defensive. I think he begins to wonder if he was second best, if the boy had lived, would she have chosen him?
People die and affect the lives of those living, but life has to go on. This makes me wonder if by "the dead" Joyce did not solely mean the loss of life, but possibly the loss of a will to live. It seems that Gretta saved Gabriel from a life under his mother's control. The fact that he became so angry and so worried that he might lose her to this man in Galway, indicates that he might be in fear of losing someone who keeps him living.