Eveline
Past vs Present: "Eveline"
We begin James Joyce's story of "Eveline" with the introduction to the protagonist, a girl who longs a different life. She spends the opening reflecting on her past memories, when she had happier times with her whole family. Then focuses on her work life; would leaving her job be wise or would it be worth what she'd receive afterwards? Eveline has a clear void in what used to be a life she enjoyed, but now finds lacking. A glimmer of hope shines through for Eveline when she recalls her meeting with the sailor, Frank, and the life she could have at Buenos Ayres as his wife. When the opportunity comes she denies it, and for what reason?
Part of what Eveline holds onto is her past, and this connects with the memories she goes over in the beginning of the story. She remembers the children in the avenue who used to all play together, when "they seemed to have been rather happy then" (3). It gives an insight to the reader of a time when things were okay, and life wasn't as bad for her. She even makes subtle mention of her father and mother, "father was not so bad then; and besides, her mother was alive" (3). Eveline knows she had a better life then, and eventually everything changed over time.
The realistic aspect is what Eveline focuses on afterwards; the pros and cons of leaving. She knows at her house "she had shelter and food; she had those whom she had known all her life about her" (3). Eveline knows those would judge her, but in the end she "would not cry many tears at leaving the Stores" (3). Then she could look forward to what she could find in this distant country and be her own person. But with two younger children in tow she knew she held many responsibilities in her current position. So when it came down to her duties it made her think, "she did not find it a wholly undesirable life" (4) maybe it could be worse?
We come to learn more of Eveline's problems and struggles that lead up to her decision of living a life with
We begin James Joyce's story of "Eveline" with the introduction to the protagonist, a girl who longs a different life. She spends the opening reflecting on her past memories, when she had happier times with her whole family. Then focuses on her work life; would leaving her job be wise or would it be worth what she'd receive afterwards? Eveline has a clear void in what used to be a life she enjoyed, but now finds lacking. A glimmer of hope shines through for Eveline when she recalls her meeting with the sailor, Frank, and the life she could have at Buenos Ayres as his wife. When the opportunity comes she denies it, and for what reason?
Part of what Eveline holds onto is her past, and this connects with the memories she goes over in the beginning of the story. She remembers the children in the avenue who used to all play together, when "they seemed to have been rather happy then" (3). It gives an insight to the reader of a time when things were okay, and life wasn't as bad for her. She even makes subtle mention of her father and mother, "father was not so bad then; and besides, her mother was alive" (3). Eveline knows she had a better life then, and eventually everything changed over time.
The realistic aspect is what Eveline focuses on afterwards; the pros and cons of leaving. She knows at her house "she had shelter and food; she had those whom she had known all her life about her" (3). Eveline knows those would judge her, but in the end she "would not cry many tears at leaving the Stores" (3). Then she could look forward to what she could find in this distant country and be her own person. But with two younger children in tow she knew she held many responsibilities in her current position. So when it came down to her duties it made her think, "she did not find it a wholly undesirable life" (4) maybe it could be worse?
We come to learn more of Eveline's problems and struggles that lead up to her decision of living a life with