The central focus of James Joyce’s “Eveline” revolves around a young woman’s unwavering dedication to a pledge made to her deceased mother. Despite the hardships endured by her family, Eveline is resolute in maintaining their unity. Nevertheless, when presented with the chance to embark on a fresh journey with Frank and abandon her family, Eveline encounters dissatisfaction but ultimately opts to remain true to her promise by eloping from him.
Both the fulfillment of her promise and the reluctance to abandon her familiar life are significant, but it is evident that Eveline was unwilling to leave. She declined the affection and care of the only person who truly loved her. From her initial introduction, Eveline appears as a fearful and uncertain young woman. By discovering that Eveline is merely nineteen, we comprehend that she has already encountered many challenges and oppressive circumstances at such a tender age.
Eveline’s troubled thoughts are depicted by Joyce, as he leads you through different periods of her life – her childhood, her present, and the impending choices that may alter her life. In her younger years, Eveline experienced a world that was vastly different from her current one – a time filled with happiness and innocence. Clive Hart describes it as a past that seemed like a pale reflection of paradise, with Eveline playing in fields that have since vanished: “…they seemed to have been rather happy then.”
That was a long time ago, but now in a dusty fallen world, Eveline hopes for salvation. She first thinks that the Messiah may have arrived in the form of Frank, her sailor suitor. Eveline clings dearly to her childhood memories and the promise she made to her mother on her death bed. She provides insight into remembering old neighbors like “the Waters” who escaped to England because they were not opposed to leaving their home. Eveline also looks forward to moving away like others in her town.
At the age of nineteen, Eveline feels vulnerable to her father’s violence due to the absence of her older brothers. The prospect of escaping this danger arises when she meets Frank, a sailor who offers her a better life away from the hardships she has endured. The desire to escape the potential abuse from her father and avoid ending up like her rejected mother becomes Eveline’s main motivation for running away with Frank.
In the story, Eveline experiences a sudden impulse to acknowledge that Frank would protect her if she accompanies him on a journey east across the seas. This decision would greatly enhance and fulfill her life, but she wrestles with what her father’s reaction would be. Her father would likely disapprove, as he has previously rejected Frank and prohibited Eveline from seeing him. Eveline finds herself torn between the notion of leaving and staying, and all of her contemplations become a somber reality. She envisions numerous possibilities of better locations, improved circumstances, and an overall superior existence.
Eveline is exhausted: “She sat at the window watching the evening invade the avenue. Her head was rested against the window curtains and in her nose was the scent of dusty cretonne. She was tired.”(616) The fatigue Eveline faced not only physically hindered her, but also wore down her spirit as she contemplated the decision that would ultimately change her life. She aimed to logically assess both options: should she leave her home and family or pursue a better life with a man who was willing to hold her tightly, ready to provide her with a new beginning.
Despite the memories of her father’s occasional kindness, she was terrified of his potential for abuse. In addition to that fear, she felt obligated to keep her family intact as per her mother’s request. Nonetheless, the thought of leaving her father troubled her because of his old age and the fact that one brother had passed away while the other had moved away.
Ultimately, Eveline desires to honor the promise she made to her mother on her deathbed. However, she is apprehensive about facing the same mistreatment her mother endured. Having experienced a life of struggles, Eveline resents the obligation to maintain their household. Reflecting on her mother’s difficult life, she becomes unsure about her own course of action and implores God for guidance and clarity in determining her duty.
Eveline is torn about her relationship with Frank. She admires his kindness, masculinity, and open-heartedness and hopes that he will bring love and meaning to her life. However, doubt plagues her thoughts as she questions whether leaving her home and family is the right choice. While she has agreed to go with Frank, she wonders if it is truly the best decision for her future. Although fear is not always present in Eveline’s mind, it is a recurring emotion for her.
Eveline’s lack of self-confidence is heavily influenced by a companion who also contributes to her lack of determination. Ultimately, her inability to make decisions paralyzes her and ensures the fate she had been trying to avoid. Clive Hart’s analysis accurately describes this fate at the end, highlighting the illuminated portholes on the boat, Eveline’s silent prayers, and her expressionless eyes devoid of love, farewell, or recognition. While Eveline remains trapped, Joyce subtly frees the reader from the suffocating effects of her imaginative world. Additionally, Eveline’s choice to stay causes immense anguish not only for herself but also for Frank – in her final moments she realizes that she cannot abandon him.
At this moment, she came to the realization that there was no possibility of retreat; this was the decision she had made and the existence she couldn’t reject. Ultimately, Eveline’s subconscious mind remained linked to her family, home, and commitments. Joyce guarantees that readers comprehend Eveline’s choice by concluding with a line that states “she set her face to him, passive, like a helpless animal. Her eyes gave him no sign of love or farewell or recognition” (620), a choice that leaves her life unaltered. Hart recognizes the importance of this concluding scene.
Eveline is shown in the closing image as motionless, clutching onto the railing with hands that are frozen. This indicates her incapability to release and surrender. By depicting Eveline in this manner, it reveals her desperation as a young girl who has no alternative but to remain and attend to her household. Her duties encompass caring for her sole surviving family member, assuming undesirable roles, and upholding her mother’s desire to maintain familial unity. Despite being uncertain whether this choice will bring her joy or not, Eveline remains steadfast in pursuing this course of action.
Works Cited
- Joyce, James. Eveline. Zlotnik Schmidt, Jan, and Lynne Crockett. Portable Legacies: Fiction, Poetry, Drama, Nonfiction. Michael Rosenburg, 2009. 616-20. Print.
- Hart, Clive. “Eveline: Overview. ” Reference Guide to Short Fiction. Ed. Noelle Watson. Detroit: St. James Press, 1994.
- Literature Resource Center. Web. 19 Oct. 2010. Website URL: http://go. galegroup. com Gale Document Number: GALE|H1420004447
