Analysis Of Eveline By James Joyce

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Analysis of Eveline “Eveline” is a short story written by James Joyce about a young lady who lives her life in a promise. The promise is to her mother, who had passed away, that no matter how bad the family became, she would always keep it together. At a significant point in Eveline’s life, she was given the opportunity to leave the family and start a family of her own. Although Eveline is miserable with her life, she runs from Frank with no love in her eyes and remembers the promise that she had made. Some people think that she did the right thing in keeping her promise, while others think that she did not have enough courage to go with Frank. Though both opinions are relevant, it is strongly apparent that Eveline is a coward for her actions. She ran away from the only person that truly loved her and cared about her needs. Joyce opens the story with Eveline remembering old neighbors like "the Waters" (4) who have since escaped east to England because they were not opposed to leaving their home. She looks forward to "going... away like the others" (Joyce 4). She admits she will not be missed at her job and at nineteen, without the former protection of her older brothers, she is beginning to feel "herself in danger of her father's violence" ( To be loved and cared by someone is all she has ever hoped for. It is in the last part of the story that really clarifies Eveline as a coward. But Eveline's rejection of Frank is not just a rejection of love, but also a rejection of a new life overseas and escape from her hard life at home. Leaving everything that puts her into misery is all she wants and desires. He was capable of taking care of them, he had done it before. He is planning on taking her away to marry him and "to live with him in Buenos Ayres" (Joyce 6). They treat her as if she is a slave. One way that she exhibits that she is a coward is shown through
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