In the short story Eveline, James Joyce writes a story about a character who faces inner conflict. Eveline grows up in a tough situation, witnessing her mother and brothers experience abuse from her father. Since Eveline’s mother’s death, she has taken over the responsibilities of a mother figure, but also fears that she will experience abuse from her father soon, as she has recently been threatened by him. Eveline wants and deserves a new life which is available to her. Frank, whom Eveline has recently met, has offered to take her to Buenos Aires to help her escape her current situation and has in addition promised to marry her. Eveline described Frank as “tak[ing] her into his arms, fold[ing] her in his arms,” and also that “[h]e would save her.” Frank seems to symbolically be Eveline’s “savior” and represent new life, and is the only chance she has to escape her current life. She has been given a way out of her current situation, but is indecisive and struggles with the choice of remaining in her “family life” or fleeing to freedom where she would have the opportunity to finally be an individual.
Eveline’s inner struggle involves the idea of leaving her father who has started to show his old age, as she is afraid of the sadness he will feel if she leaves him, even with how abusive he has been. Another burden that’s holding Eveline back from venturing into new life is the promise she made to her mother, expressing that she would try her very best to keep the family together. She forgets to think about what is best for herself, and instead thinks too much of the people around her, not recognizing what is most ideal for her well-being and growth as a person.
At the time that Eveline decides to leave and go to Buenos Aires with Frank, she is reminded of the night of her mother’s death by the sound of the organs playing. This is the first thing that significantly plays a role in her decision. Here, Eveline is reminded of her promise to her mother and feels guilt immediately. Again, Eveline not letting go of the past is expressed through the passage, “[t]he white of the two letters in her lap grew indistinct.” One letter was to her father, and the other to her surviving brother. As she gets ready to board the ship, Eveline begins to second-guess her decision to leave the place she knows and panics. It seemed to me that Eveline felt too guilty to leave her father alone and also on the flipside was afraid of the “unknown” of a new journey. As we all know, Eveline backs out on her decision to go with Frank and returns to her current life. It was saddening to me to watch Eveline return the situation she never wanted to be in - following the same path as her mother.
Eveline’s inner struggle involves the idea of leaving her father who has started to show his old age, as she is afraid of the sadness he will feel if she leaves him, even with how abusive he has been. Another burden that’s holding Eveline back from venturing into new life is the promise she made to her mother, expressing that she would try her very best to keep the family together. She forgets to think about what is best for herself, and instead thinks too much of the people around her, not recognizing what is most ideal for her well-being and growth as a person.
At the time that Eveline decides to leave and go to Buenos Aires with Frank, she is reminded of the night of her mother’s death by the sound of the organs playing. This is the first thing that significantly plays a role in her decision. Here, Eveline is reminded of her promise to her mother and feels guilt immediately. Again, Eveline not letting go of the past is expressed through the passage, “[t]he white of the two letters in her lap grew indistinct.” One letter was to her father, and the other to her surviving brother. As she gets ready to board the ship, Eveline begins to second-guess her decision to leave the place she knows and panics. It seemed to me that Eveline felt too guilty to leave her father alone and also on the flipside was afraid of the “unknown” of a new journey. As we all know, Eveline backs out on her decision to go with Frank and returns to her current life. It was saddening to me to watch Eveline return the situation she never wanted to be in - following the same path as her mother.