Themes: Societal expectations of women
Eveline’s opportunities in life are almost entirely shaped by her position as a woman in her society. She lives with her father, who has a history of abusing the family, and faithfully surrenders her entire income to him. In return, she has to beg for enough money to do the grocery shopping each week for her family. Her father believes that she is frivolous and cannot be trusted to manage her meager allowance for the family’s needs appropriately. Each Saturday, she is forced to engage in a predictable “squabble” with him over these funds, and the ongoing battle leaves her “weary.”
Not only does Eveline care for her father’s needs by shopping and cleaning for him, but she also cares for two young children who have been entrusted to her care. There is no indication this is a path Eveline has chosen to pursue; instead, the situation has simply been thrust upon her. As a woman, she fills an expected role in their lives, cooking their meals and making sure they attend school regularly.
In some ways, Frank allows Eveline to step outside of these expectations. She is entertained and treated to moments of fun. Their time together does not revolve around domestic duties, and Eveline is “elated” as she engages in this comparatively carefree world.
Soon, however, she finds herself again firmly under the command of her father’s authority. He demands that Eveline end her relationship with Frank and thereby submit to her father’s will. Although Eveline continues her relationship, she must conduct herself privately so that no one will report her misdeeds to her father.
Facing ongoing mistreatment from her father, Eveline longs for an escape. Frank provides this opportunity. She feels that “he would give her life” but is not certain that they would ever truly love each other. Although Eveline is terror-stricken by thoughts of living out the remainder of her life in her father’s home, she is equally paralyzed by the societal expectations placed upon her.
Eveline recognizes that the only two roles that her society offers are being a daughter or becoming a wife. She is expected to be a caretaker, in one form or the other, and to sacrifice her happiness to do so. Her decision to remain with her father demonstrates the complicated nature of abusive relationships and the way women often submit to enduring “a hard life” because society has taught them that its predictability is not “wholly undesirable.”
Expert Q&A
In "Eveline," what decision does Eveline make at the end and why?
In "Eveline," the decision that Eveline makes at the end of the story is to stay put in Ireland instead of leaving with her lover, Frank, for Argentina. She makes this decision because she is in the grip of a debilitating inertia that prevents her from making necessary changes to her life. In that sense, for Joyce, she symbolizes contemporary Ireland, with its parochialism, lack of ambition, and cultural paralysis.
What is the significance of this passage in "Eveline" in the context of the story's outcome?
All the seas of the world tumbled about her heart. He was drawing her into them: he would drown her.
The passage in "Eveline" signifies her spiritual and mental paralysis, a common theme in Joyce's work. Eveline's awareness of her powerlessness and her subservient nature lead her to surrender to her old life, despite the opportunity to escape. Her promises to her mother and her sense of duty to protect her brother trap her in a life she finds undesirable, highlighting her inability to change her circumstances.
What are Eveline's reasons for staying in Dublin in James Joyce's "Eveline"?
Eveline remains in Dublin due to a sense of duty and paralysis. She is bound by a promise to her deceased mother to keep the family together, which prevents her from leaving with Frank. Her indecision is compounded by confused religious notions of duty and the influences of mistreatment and guilt. These factors create a paralysis of mind and soul, leaving her unable to act, ultimately causing her to stay as Frank departs.
What does the phrase "She felt her cheek pale and cold and, out of a maze of distress, she prayed to God to direct her, to show her what was her duty" mean in "Eveline"?
The phrase "She felt her cheek pale and cold and, out of a maze of distress, she prayed to God to direct her, to show her what was her duty" in "Eveline" reflects her internal conflict between staying in Dublin to fulfill her family duties and leaving for Buenos Aires with Frank. Her distress stems from the choice between self-sacrifice and potential happiness. Ultimately, her sense of duty, influenced by religious conditioning and a promise to her mother, leads her to stay.
Comment on the quote from "Eveline": "It was hard work--a hard life--but now that she was about to leave it she did not find it a wholly undesirable life."
This quote highlights Eveline's internal conflict as she prepares to leave her difficult life for the unknown. Despite acknowledging the hardships, such as managing household duties and dealing with her domineering father, Eveline finds herself appreciating aspects of her current life as she stands on the brink of departure. It underscores a common human tendency to find value in familiar circumstances only when faced with the prospect of losing them.
Why does Eveline choose to stay despite saying "Life of commonplace sacrifices closing in final craziness" and "She must escape! Why should she be unhappy?"
"Life of commonplace sacrifices closing in final craziness."
"She must escape! Why should she be unhappy?"
Eveline chooses to stay because of her deep-seated fear and sense of duty, despite her desire to escape a life of "commonplace sacrifices." Her mother's fate and final words, "The end of pleasure is pain," instill terror in Eveline, prompting her desire to leave. However, at the crucial moment, Eveline is paralyzed by her religious obligations and duties, ultimately unable to act on her impulse to escape, and remains rooted in her familiar, albeit unhappy, life.
Why couldn't Eveline elope with Frank based on the last scene and her character?
Eveline couldn't elope with Frank because she is inherently passive and unable to embrace change. In the final scene, she asks God for guidance and interprets her ensuing anxiety as a divine message, reinforcing her inertia. Her character is defined by stillness and a fear of change, leading to a physical and emotional paralysis that prevents her from leaving her familiar, albeit stifling, life.
What impressions lead Eveline to stay behind?
Eveline decides to stay behind due to her conflicting emotions and sense of duty. Despite dreaming of a new life away from her oppressive home, she is haunted by memories of her mother's sacrifices and a promise to keep the family together. Eveline's fear of the unknown, her father's disapproval, and the need to protect her brother from potential abuse ultimately overpower her desire to escape, leading to her epiphany that she cannot leave.
In "Eveline" by James Joyce, what does the phrase "to keep the home together as long as she could" mean?
The phrase "to keep the home together as long as she could" in James Joyce's "Eveline" refers to Eveline's promise to her dying mother to take care of her father and siblings, essentially stepping into the maternal role. This commitment symbolizes Eveline's sense of duty and familial obligation, which ultimately paralyzes her and prevents her from leaving with her suitor, Frank, to start a new life.
Eveline's home life and its impact on her life
Eveline's home life is oppressive and burdensome, filled with responsibilities and an abusive father. This environment leaves her feeling trapped and fearful of change, impacting her ability to embrace new opportunities and ultimately influencing her decision to stay rather than leave with her lover, Frank.
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