Themes: Responsibility and opportunity
At nineteen years old, Eveline has been given a heavy responsibility. After losing a brother and her mother, she is expected to care for her household, including two young children. Eveline dutifully cleans the home, works to earn an income herself, and struggles to provide adequate provisions for the people who live in her home. She finds the work difficult but is compelled to fulfill the responsibilities expected of her.
But Eveline is afforded an opportunity for a different life. Frank tells her of “distant countries” he has visited, and she is excited as she listens to his previous adventures on the Straits of Magellan and the “stories of the terrible Pagagonians.” After spending time with Eveline, Frank wants to whisk her away to a new life in Buenos Aires, an exotic and promising city where she might create new possibilities for herself.
Yet in the end, Eveline is trapped by her perceived responsibilities and
unable to pursue a new life with Frank. Accepting that her life must mirror the
“commonplace sacrifices” that seemingly drove her mother to the “craziness”
that ended her life, Eveline relinquishes her hopes for her life to maintain
the responsibilities expected of her.
Expert Q&A
Why is Eveline's epiphany about leaving with Frank in "Eveline" significant?
In "Eveline," the protagonist's realization that she cannot leave Dublin with Frank is significant for its display of intense emotional conflict and its commentary on the broader societal paralysis in Ireland. Despite her outwardly passive demeanor, Eveline experiences a tumultuous internal struggle, highlighting Joyce's focus on psychological experience. Her decision to stay, however, also symbolizes the cultural and political stagnation that prevents many from changing their lives in Ireland, making her personal dilemma a reflection of a national issue.
Did Eveline stay in Dublin due to indecision, passivity, or wise consideration?
Eveline remains in Dublin due to a combination of indecision and paralysis rather than wise consideration. Her sense of duty, family obligations, and the promise to her mother overpower her desire to escape. Despite planning to leave with Frank, Eveline is ultimately unable to act, feeling overwhelmed and passive, as depicted by her "helpless animal" state at the story's end. This reflects the broader theme of paralysis in James Joyce's Dubliners.
What are Eveline's reasons for considering Buenos Aires and staying in Dublin?
Eveline considers moving to Buenos Aires as an escape from her abusive father and oppressive life in Dublin. The prospect of a better life with her lover Frank offers hope for respect and freedom. However, she is indecisive, tied by a promise to her dying mother to keep the family together. Ultimately, she is paralyzed by fear and responsibility, unable to leave her family, illustrating her entrapment in a no-win situation.
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