Analysis of Eveline
"Eveline" is a short story written by James Joyce about a young lady who lives her life in a promise. The promise is to her mother, who had passed away, that no matter how bad the family became, she would always keep it together. At a significant point in Eveline's life, she was given the opportunity to leave the family and start a family of her own. Although Eveline is miserable with her life, she runs from Frank with no love in her eyes and remembers the promise that she had made.Some people think that she did the right thing in keeping her promise, while others think that she did not have enough courage to go with Frank. Though both opinions are relevant, it is strongly apparent that Eveline is a coward for her actions. She ran away from the only person that truly loved her and cared about her needs. Joyce opens the story with Eveline remembering old neighbors like "the Waters" (4) who have since escaped east to England because they were not opposed to leaving their home. She looks forward to "going... away like the others" (Joyce 4). She admits she will not be missed at her job and at nineteen, without the former protection of her older brothers, she is beginning to feel "herself in danger of her father's violence" (Joyce
Another way that Eveline demonstrates her cowardly actions, is by not leaving an abusive situation. When she contemplates leaving with Frank, Eveline never thinks of leaving behind those who love her. Eveline knows her father and siblings depend on her and need her, but she doesn't feel loved by them. They treat her as if she is a slave. But "Frank was very kind, manly, open- hearted" (Joyce 5) and after the excitement of being courted, she "had begun to like him" (Joyce 5). She knows Frank can give her a new life, and perhaps love, too and "she had a right to happiness" (Joyce 6). It is by her faith that she does not take this opportunity. Her courage to leave her promise is not there in her heart. It is in the story that she admits over and over that she is sad, and she wants out of her life, and to feel loved by someone. It is in the last part of the story that really clarifies Eveline as a coward. Eveline has already been courted and won by Frank. He is planning on taking her away to marry him and "to live with him in Buenos Ayres" (Joyce 6). To be loved and cared by someone is all she has ever hoped for. When she meets him at the station and they are set to board the ship, Eveline suddenly decides she cannot go with Frank, because "he would drown her in all the seas of the world" (Joyce 6). But Eveline's rejection of Frank is n
Some common words found in the essay are:
James Joyce, Ayres Joyce, Frank Eveline, Frank Joyce, joyce 6, , eveline coward, joyce 5, joyce 4, leave promise, feel loved, own life, looks forward, loved cared, person truly,
Approximate Word count = 904
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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