Upon finishing James Joyce's 'Eveline', my initial response was one of discontentment, wondering if that was all there was to the story. The cause for this dissatisfaction stemmed from inadequate depiction of vital components like Eveline's father, her mother's passing, and her brother Ernest's fate.
My impression of Eveline is that her life and the people in it are largely unknown to me, making it difficult to understand who she truly is. In contrast, I have more information about the character 'Frank.' Initially, I saw parallels between Eveline's struggles at home and work with those of a high school student transitioning to college. For example, she mentions her father's change in behavior and the increased workload since her mother passed away (page 4).
In her writing, Eveline touches on various topics. On page 5, she expresses
...her thoughts about her father's behavior of taking her money and parenting her mother's two youngest children. She shares how living at home has made her feel similar to high school students who often become bored with their surroundings. However, in contrast to this, on page 4, Eveline describes a new life she hopes for with Frank in their new home where she desires to be treated respectfully. Despite my initial impressions being wrong, Eveline goes into detail about how she met Frank and the physical appearance he had at that time. She also speaks about his adventures and how he made her feel important by taking her to see Bohemian Girl.
In the following lines, Eveline expresses her anxiety regarding rushing into marriage with Frank. This emotion is understandable since the decision to marry someone will undoubtedly transform one's life.
The conclusion of "Eveline" left me bewildered. Although Eveline prays to God for guidance on whether to stay or run away with Frank, her sudden realization of being pulled into "the seas of the world that tumbled about her heart" ultimately leads her to decline Frank's proposal. This ending does not resonate with me.
Works Cited: Joyce, James.
"Eveline" is referenced in the book Literature and the Writing Process authored by Elizabeth McMahan, Susan X Day, and Robert Funk. The publication was released in 2007 by Pearson Prentice Hall and spans pages 4-7.
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