Binsar Stefan 13020113190037

The Lacks of Atmosphere and Diminished Theme between The Dead

Short Fiction by James Joyce and The Dead Film Adaptation
Synopsis
The story centers on Gabriel Conroy, a university professor, on the night of the Morkan
sisters' annual dance and dinner in the first week of January 1904, a celebration of the Feast of the
Epiphany. After party, Gabriel grows irritated by Grettas behavior started from the way back until
reached the hotel. She does not seem to share his romantic inclinations, and in fact bursts into tears.
Gretta confesses that she has been thinking of the song from the party because a former lover had
sung it to her in her youth in Galway. Gretta recounts the sad story of this boy, Michael Furey, who
died after waiting outside of her window in the cold. Gretta later falls asleep, but Gabriel remains
awake, disturbed by Grettas new information. He curls up on the bed, contemplating his own
mortality. Seeing the snow at the window, he envisions it blanketing the graveyard where Michael
Furey rests, as well as all of Ireland.

Analysis
The Atmosphere
I conclude this film lacks of the atmosphere from Joyces story. In printed, The Dead has a
quite melancholy and contemplative mood. In the film, not much of a mood is built at all. I think this
loss of atmosphere has something to do with the lack of focus and expression on Gabriel as the center
of the film. In Joyces work we get a great sense that Gabriel feels trapped and in despair throughout
the night, making his epiphany at the end of the story even more impactful. Losses of the atmosphere
weakened the Gabriels melancholy, for example, . he ran over the headings of his speech: Irish
hospitality, sad memories, the Three Graces, Paris, the quotation from Browning. He repeated to
himself a phrase(pg.98), as he took another preparatory draught. He set to his supper and
took no part in the conversation.(pg. 101), this eliminated illustration made the character of
Gabriel lost his melancholy. Therefore, there is a scene that is changed from the original text when
Gabriel realized he lived without passion
and love, Gabriel, leaning on his elbow,
looked for a few moments unresentfully on
her tangled hair and half-open mouth,
listening to her deep-drawn breathThe
air of the room chilled his shoulders. He
stretched himself cautiously along under the
sheets and lay down besides his wife.
(pg.115), but in the film Gabriel went to the
window and regret for what he has done to his wife that is weakened the figure of melancholy
professor.

Diminished Theme
There are two diminished center theme that is eliminated and changed from the original
works to the adaptation. The first is Religion, in the original works I found the conversation between
Aunt Kate, Mr. Browne, and Mary jane about the point of view of the woman who have slaved their
whole lives in choir and church. she wouldn't be said or led by anyone, slaving there in that choir
night and day, that she was simply thrown away in that choir. But she never would be said by
me., night and day. Six o'clock on Christmas morning! And all for what?, Well, isn't it for the
honour of God, Aunt Kate?, I know all about the honour of God, Mary Jane, but I think it's not at
all honourable for the pope to turn out the women out of the choirs that have slaved there all their
lives and put little whipper-snappers of boys over their heads. (pg. 99). In the film I found no
scene that is reflected conversation above which lose the theme of its works.
The second theme is Formality, regarding the written works I red, I conclude that the
Formality in this story is strong, I mean why did the Gabriel need to arrange a nice speech carefully in
such of tradition feast. But in the film, Gabriel seemed to be interested in the event and took care of
drunk and screwed Freddy patiently. I found an example so we could see the significant changes
diminishing the Formality: Gabriel could not listen while Mary Jane was playing her Academy
piece, full of runs and difficult passages, to the hushed drawing-room. He liked music but the piece
she was playing had no melody for him and he doubted whether it had any melody for the other
listeners, though they had begged Mary Jane to play something., The only persons who seemed to
follow the music were Mary Jane herself (pg. 94). But in the film the people seemed to follow the
music by Mary Jane.

Conclusion

I think it is quite safe to say that The Dead is a good film and has a lot of reflection from its
original works, unfortunately, the film doesnt hold the candle to its source material. In the film, the Ephipany in
original works delivered perfectly with no doubt.