James Joyce's story, "The Dead," takes place in Dublin, Ireland in 1904 in the beginning of January. Gabriel Conroy and his wife, Gretta, attend the annual Christmas time gathering at the home of the Morkan women: his aunts, Kate and Julia, and their niece, Mary Jane. The movie does a wonderful job of actually creating the hectic yet cheerful atmosphere that is described in the story. Certain details, like the aunts waiting by the banister so they can hear who arrives, are also found in the movie. Alcohol, a recurring theme in Joyce's stories is also present in both the story and the movie. Freddy Malins shows up "screwed" to the party and Mr. Browne is obviously drunk, yet is much more suave than Freddy. The encounter Mr. Conroy has with Miss Ivors is almost exactly the same in the movie. However, before they dance, Mr. Conroy sees her...