Molly Ivors, referred to as "Miss Ivors" in the story, can be seen as a foil to Gabriel (the protagonist of "The Dead") who helps reveal Gabriel's regressive views about women.
Though both characters are teachers (and graduates of the same university), Miss Ivors disagrees vehemently with what she sees as Gabriel's pro-British leanings, and makes her own nationalism and powerful attachment to Irish culture known by calling Gabriel a "West Briton": a pejorative term for a British loyalist in Ireland. Gabriel, meanwhile, seems more drawn to countries outside of Ireland—he often goes on trips to France, Belgium, and Germany—and confesses to Miss Ivors that he is "sick of [his] own country."
Additionally, in contrast to other major female characters in "The Dead," consigned to the roles of obliging hostess (Mary Kate), wife (Gretta), or spinster (Julia and Kate), Miss Ivors seems truly independent: she has the same career as Gabriel, and is unafraid to voice her own opinions, even when Gabriel responds coldly to her. Therefore, Miss Ivors also seems to pose a threat to Gabriel, who condescendingly considers her a "girl or woman...an enthusiast," and angrily thinks to himself, "...she had no right to call him a West Briton before people, even in joke." Instead of contemplating his colleague's critiques, or taking her own beliefs and intellectual background seriously, Gabriel thinks of Miss Ivors as "a frank-mannered talkative young lady," and remarks upon the fact that she is not wearing a "low-cut bodice" before reflecting on their parallel educations and career paths. Though some of Gabriel's beliefs could arguably be seen as progressive—such as his opposition to unquestioning nationalism—his tense encounters with Miss Ivors indicate that he upholds patriarchal standards.
