Joyce
Ultimately, why doesn't Eveline want to leave?
In this response, I will prove that Eveline did not leave with Frank due to contempt from her promise with her dead mother, along with the feelings she had for her abusive father. Eveline is just a home-body, who has never experienced anything outside her tiny town, and has an internal fight within herself.
Eveline appears to be trying to convince herself how much life at home was worth leaving thoughout the story, "...she sometimes felt herself in danger of her father's violence." (Joyce, 1914. P. 421) This among many other examples reflected that she did indeed not like living with her father, or though it seemed. Eveline went back and forth in the story between the pros and cons of leaving or staying. She couldnt make her mind up, but loved to fantasize about different places that she could go, and experience with Frank. "She was about to explore another life with Franks." (Joyce, 1914. P. 421) She wanted this life, the life that she knew she had a roof over her head, and food to eat. "In her home anyway she had shelter and food; she had those whom she had known all her life about her." (Joyce, 1914. P. 420) As the story continued, she started to make more excuses as to why she shouldnt go, "Her father was becoming old lately, she noticed; he would miss her. Sometimes he could be very nice." (Joyce, 1914. P 422) Eveline appears to know what she wants, but doesnt want to tell Frank, for shear dissappointment that he may not want her anymore.
By the end of the story, Eveline has a nauseated feeling, wanting to live, and having Frank save her, but standing on the docks alone, with a groom on the ship sailing away. She has made her decision to stay, and that decision was made by her and the excuses that she continued tell herself on how the place was not so bad.
In this response, I will prove that Eveline did not leave with Frank due to contempt from her promise with her dead mother, along with the feelings she had for her abusive father. Eveline is just a home-body, who has never experienced anything outside her tiny town, and has an internal fight within herself.
Eveline appears to be trying to convince herself how much life at home was worth leaving thoughout the story, "...she sometimes felt herself in danger of her father's violence." (Joyce, 1914. P. 421) This among many other examples reflected that she did indeed not like living with her father, or though it seemed. Eveline went back and forth in the story between the pros and cons of leaving or staying. She couldnt make her mind up, but loved to fantasize about different places that she could go, and experience with Frank. "She was about to explore another life with Franks." (Joyce, 1914. P. 421) She wanted this life, the life that she knew she had a roof over her head, and food to eat. "In her home anyway she had shelter and food; she had those whom she had known all her life about her." (Joyce, 1914. P. 420) As the story continued, she started to make more excuses as to why she shouldnt go, "Her father was becoming old lately, she noticed; he would miss her. Sometimes he could be very nice." (Joyce, 1914. P 422) Eveline appears to know what she wants, but doesnt want to tell Frank, for shear dissappointment that he may not want her anymore.
By the end of the story, Eveline has a nauseated feeling, wanting to live, and having Frank save her, but standing on the docks alone, with a groom on the ship sailing away. She has made her decision to stay, and that decision was made by her and the excuses that she continued tell herself on how the place was not so bad.