Snow and Humanity

Snowflakes are random, unique and fragile, which resembles characteristics of human nature. James Joyce parallels the imperfections of snowflakes and humanity in his novela The Dead.  Joyce depicts snow as the symbol that unifies humanity through a flawed essence and expands Gabriel Conroy’s narrow mind as he escapes from a superficial mindset.

Gabriel Conroy is a man obsessed with an unordinary superficial perfection, which at the beginning of his aunt’s christmas party causes him to fear the harsh reality of human nature. Upon entering, his actions speak for his mightier-than-thou attitude which is displayed in the remarks of his wife causing the late arrival which sets his tone initially trying to escape the snow. Gabriel, “stood on the mat scraping the snow from his galoshes…He continued scraping his feet vigorously… A light fringe of snow lay like a cape on the shoulders of his overcoat and like toe caps on the toes of his galoshes” (237).  The aggressive removal of the snow demonstrates the detached nature of Gabriel.   

 This is the first instance that Gabriel comes into contact with the symbolic snow, and the most suitable for his hurry to shed the snow mirrors how quickly he wants to detach himself from the party guests. 

Later, the galoshes became the subject of conversation when Gretta, Gabriel’s wife, makes mention of her husband’s demand that she wear galoshes in the snow. She jokes, “Tonight even he wanted me to put them on, but I wouldn’t. The next thing you know he’ll be buying me a diving suit” (242). This example demonstrates the extremes Gabriel will go through to protect his wife and himself from the snow. 

While Gabriel tries to protect  himself from humanity (the snow), Gretta embraces it.

Similar to snow melting, Gabriel’s superficial outlook begins to thaw. Gabriel  lacks the warmth that comes from the friction of ordinary humanity. He is a cold person who is perhaps afraid that being covered by snow will freeze him. Yet  he transforms when he finds himself reflecting upon life after when Gretta informs him of the relationship she had with Micheal Furey.

When finally exposed to the snow, he is overcome with an overwhelming awareness that is unmistakably human.  Joyce depicts the modest aspects of humanity through the unique forms of snowfall, that defines mankind. It is the snow that Gabriel initially ignores, and it is the snow that opens Gabriel to the idea of humanness. Joyce’s purposefully mirrors unstable emotions of Gabriel, to the everchanging snow.