The dead

Untitled The Dead Characters: Lily—Kate and Julia Morkan's housemaid. Kate and Julia Morkan—Grand dames in the world of Dublin music, who throw an annual party at Christmastime. Pat Morkan—Brother of Kate and Julia (dead). Mary Jane Morkan—Church organist and daughter of Pat, thus niece of Kate and Julia. Mr. Fulham—Kate and Julia Morkan's landlord. Gabriel Conroy—A professor and part-time book reviewer; Kate and Julia Morkan's nephew. Gretta Conroy—Gabriel's wife. Freddy Malins A drunken guest at the Morkans' party. Ellen Morkin Conroy—Mother of Gabriel (dead). T.J. Conroy—Member of the Dublin Port and Docks Board; father of Gabriel (dead). Mrs. Malins, Miss Daly, Miss Power, Mr. Browne, Miss Furlong, Mr. Bergin, Mr. Kerrigan, and Miss O'Callaghan—Guests at the Morkans' party. Bartell D'Arcy—A renowned tenor vocalist and a guest at the Morkans' party. Constantine Conroy—A priest; brother of Gabriel. Molly Ivors—A guest at the Morkans' party and a colleague of Gabriel's; she is involved in the movement to restore Irish language and culture to the island. Patrick Morkan—Owner of a glue or starch mill, and father of Kate and Julia (dead). Tom and Eva Conroy—Children of Gabriel and Gretta. Michael Furey—Gretta's first lover, who died for the love of her. Summary: (Sisters Julia and Kate Morkan are hosting their annual holiday party and anxiously awaiting the arrival of their nephew, Gabriel Conroy, who is the son of their late sister Ellen. It is after 10 p.m., and so far he has not come. When Gabriel and his wife, Gretta, arrive, Gabriel tries to engage in small talk with Lily, the housekeeper, who meets them at the door. He asks whether he will be going to her wedding with her ``young man,'' and Lily bitterly replies,"The men that is now is only all palaver and what they can get out of you.'' Her reply flusters Gabriel, and he feels that he has made some sort of mistake. In an effort to make up for it, he gives Lily a coin, saying that it is a Christmas present. She tries to refuse it, but he is already running up the stairs to where the music and dancing are taking place.) Miss Kate Morkan and Miss Julian Morkan, spinster sisters, are throwing their annual Misses Morkan's dance. It is the holiday season. Lily, the caretaker's daughter, struggles to keep up with her many tasks, which include looking after the arriving guests. The dance is always huge: family, former music pupils, and the members of Julia's choir fill the house with gaiety and laughter. After the death of their brother Pate, Kate and Julia have lived in the old house on Usher's Island. Mary Jane, their only niece, lived on with them. Mary Jane still lives with them, earning money through her music. The three women are tense. It is past ten pm, and Gabriel Conroy and his wife have not yet arrived. Freddy Malins might come drunk. Finally, Gabriel and his wife arrive. As Lily helps Gabriel