The purpose of this paper is to investigate Gabriel Conroy`s politics -imperialism, snobbery, and flunkyism - and his awakening from politics and becoming a true Joycean nationalist. James Joyce`s Gabriel, the main character of "The Dead," has been examined from opposite points of view: a Joycean nationalist in the affirmative and a paralysed character in the negative. But I suggest the hypothesis that both Gabriel`s politics and the theme of paralysis should be considered in the same context. David Daiches said that `no argument can be isolated and discussed as the theme of the story, for the story is the theme and the theme is the story.` According to many critics, Gabriel is a dead member of a dead society: he remains rooted at the centre of paralysis. The theme of paralysis is mainly represented in Gabriel`s imperialistic politics: familial and sexual. Judging from Gabriel`s politics, his imperialism is closely related to, and sustained by, his snobbery and flunkyism. The theme of paralysis - Gabriel`s imperialism, snobbery, and flunkyism - is reinforced by symbols, such as `goloshes` symbolizing a more civilized dominant European culture, `whose very cultural superiority and refinement depended on the exploitation of its colonies,` Wellington Monument symbolizing British imperial rule, and King Billy`s statue, a symbol of English domination. The imageries of light and dark are also developed within the pattern of paralysis. Besides Gabriel`s imperialism, his sexual colonialization, and the theme of his paralysis, there are very many clues that we may consider to Gabriel`s attitude and thoughts of snobbery or flunkyism: Gabriel`s cultural and class snobbery, and his lack of Irishness. As a result, Gabriel, experiencing lyric epiphany, becomes transformed `from insularity and egotism to humanitarianism and love.` This recognition brings with it the discovery that he has never understood the integrity of his wife Gretta, of his home country Ireland, and his own. Finally, having discovered his deficiencies, Gabriel was able to become a true Joycean nationalist.