The Dead

by

James Joyce

Kate Morkan (Aunt Kate) Character Analysis

Gabriel’s aunt, who lives and is hosting the dinner party with her sister Julia, and niece, Mary Jane. She is a musician who gives piano lessons in their home, since she is “too feeble to go about much.” As far as physical appearance goes, Kate seems to be the most lively of Gabriel’s aunts, with a face like a “red apple” and a long braid of a “ripe nut color.” Kate feels strongly about the Catholic Church’s decision to ban women from church choirs, but she is conflicted because she also believes the pope is infallible. She downplays her own opinions about this to avoid offending others, even though she feels passionately about the issue.

Kate Morkan (Aunt Kate) Quotes in The Dead

The The Dead quotes below are all either spoken by Kate Morkan (Aunt Kate) or refer to Kate Morkan (Aunt Kate). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Jealousy and Male Pride Theme Icon
).
Section 2 Quotes

I know all about the honour of God, Mary Jane, but I think it’s not at all honourable for the pope to turn out the women of the choirs that have slaved there all their lives and put little whipper-snappers of boys over their heads. I suppose it is for the good of the Church if the pope does it. But it’s not just Mary Jane, and it’s not right.

Related Characters: Kate Morkan (Aunt Kate) (speaker), Mary Jane
Page Number: 195
Explanation and Analysis:
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Kate Morkan (Aunt Kate) Quotes in The Dead

The The Dead quotes below are all either spoken by Kate Morkan (Aunt Kate) or refer to Kate Morkan (Aunt Kate). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Jealousy and Male Pride Theme Icon
).
Section 2 Quotes

I know all about the honour of God, Mary Jane, but I think it’s not at all honourable for the pope to turn out the women of the choirs that have slaved there all their lives and put little whipper-snappers of boys over their heads. I suppose it is for the good of the Church if the pope does it. But it’s not just Mary Jane, and it’s not right.

Related Characters: Kate Morkan (Aunt Kate) (speaker), Mary Jane
Page Number: 195
Explanation and Analysis: