As noted in the lecture, "Death in Prose," James Joyce's "The Dead" has been read as offering both an optimistic and pessimistic perspective on Gabriel's epiphany at the end of the story. For some, Gabriel seems to be genuinely moving away from the self-centered egotism that hindered his interactions with others; for others, the weight of the other stories (including the circularity suggested by "The Sisters") suggests that the paralysis that pervades Dubliners will extend to Gabriel too. Which reading of the end of "The Dead" do you find most compelling in the context of the both the story itself and the Dubliners collection more generally?
Please note: as before, there is not a correct answer to this question. Rather, you are being asked to think about two possible readings of the ending of the story and then to decide, on the basis of textual evidence, which one you find more convincing. Do remember to base your answer on an analysis of the text and to craft your answer in such a way that it makes a clear and compelling case to the reader.