The relationship between the shifting narrative and the theme of paralysis in "The Dead" by James Joyce James Joyce said that the Dubliners series was about paralysis... paralysis which plagued Ireland and its people who had an inability to live life to the full. In her article, "Pattern of Paralysis in Joyce's Dubliners: A Study of Framework," Florence L. Walzl recounts an incident that illustrates Joyce's motivations for writing the series. Impatient with the restrictions of life in Dublin, he concluded that Ireland was sick, and diagnosed his psychological illness as hemiplegia, a partial, one-sided paralysis. He said to his brother: "Your problem is that you are afraid to live. You and people like you. This city suffers from hemiplegia of the will." When he had finished only the first story he stated: "I am writing a series of epicletics - ten - for a newspaper... I call the series Dubliners to betray the soul of the hemiplegia or paralysis which many consider a city" (221) . The short story "The Dead" is one of the writings in the Dubliners series that features the theme of paralysis. It can be argued that Miss Morkan's annual ball represents the repressed and predictable society of Ireland and Gabriel Conroy represents the sedated Irish citizens and their static and impartial nature. A relationship between the story's shifting narrative and the aforementioned theme of paralysis can also be discussed. The narrative begins with the party seen through Lily's perspective. In the first scene of the story, we are introduced to Lily (the maid), who is very busy taking care of the guests arriving at Miss Morkan's party. There are several important lines right in the second paragraph that illustrate the repetitive nature of the party. The… middle of paper… has analyzed everything that is wrong with him and his life, there is no guarantee he would do anything about it. He is shown to be passive time and time again throughout the story. Even as he has become self-aware, he has also realized that his problem is the way he is wired. He assumes the problem is his makeup and that has been fixed. This makes any attempt at change extremely difficult. Works Cited Hollister, Michael. Encyclopedia of Literary Characters, third revised edition. Salem Press, Inc. New York. 1998. Joyce, James. The dead. Bedford/St. Martin. Boston/New York. 1994.Lucente, George L. "Encounter and Subtext in 'The Dead': A Note on Joyce's Narrative Techniques." Studies in short fiction. (2002): 281-287. Walzl, Florence L. "Pattern of Paralysis in Joyce's Dubliners: A Study of Framework." University English 22.4 (1961): 221-228.