The short story entitled "Eveline" by James Joyce, in essence, is of the finest pieces of literature. The story creates an atmosphere that immediately pulls one into the eyes of a, what was then, mature woman nineteen-year-old, Eveline. The reader is brought through some early childhood memories up to her present day life, where it is then, that Eveline makes the final decision. After taking note of the rather sheltered, confused, and attached life that Eveline had experienced, it is no surprise as to why her resolution was home.
Through the basis of her life, Eveline was undoubtedly a sheltered young lady. The sheltered aspect of her life created an insecurity in which she wouldn't know what to do if the town "found out that she had run away with a fellow" (Joyce, 4). Eveline was so sheltered that she had built up a scare to do anything different or diverse in her life. She didn't have enough outer-relationships to build up the confidence in herself to make her own choices. "She was about to explore another life with Frank" (Joyce, 5) also distinguishes an understanding of how irregular these somewhat normal events were to her skewed perspective. Eveline was walking in uncharted territory, which most young women her age would have already experienced.
Eveline's life was also built up as a confused vision. Her view was slightly off due to the way her mother had been raised. She was not fond of her mother's upcoming, Eveline wanted it so "people would treat her with respect" (Joyce, 4). She had an image of a princess embedded deep in her head, an insight to a highly-viewed individual. And yet there she sat, "the white of two letters in her lap," (Joyce, 5) not certain which path to follow. She was confused about whether to stay with her father and continue the normal daily routine, or rather open her eyes and breath new life into what she had been suspended of her entire life.
On top of these conditions, Eveline was above all attached to the glorious remedy of her fair and loyal neighborhood. "Home! She looked around the room, reviewing all its familiar objects which she had dusted once a week for so many years" (Joyce, 4). Eveline had lived in this home since her childhood; it was her place, her life. She was familiar with this substance, and that's just how she wanted it to balance. "She remembered her father putting on her mother's bonnet to make the children laugh" (Joyce, 5). Memories are sustained through high emotions, emotions that Eveline felt as she thought about her past. She was attached to her community, and nothing was going to take that away.
The choice that Eveline settled for are a result as to how she was raised, and of whom she interacted with. Her parents held a great influence over her life, and to follow her own flesh, was the resolved future for Eveline. Eveline's decision was not contrary to belief, but comparatively the conclusion of her confined outlook on life.
Already have an account? Log In Now
4772