Eveline is forced to remain in this part of Dublin because of her promise that she had made to her dead mother. Eveline had a chance to escape all this, but she does not take it because of her conservative behaviour that she should hold the family together, and does not know any other way. Eveline’s promise to her mother seems to cripple her. She can’t get out of it!.
Eveline feels that she must adhere to tradition and be obedient by living her mother’s life. Eveline even says,
“it was hard work-a hard life- but now that she was about to leave she did not find it a wholly undesirable life.”
Eveline does want to get away, but simply does not know any other way of living. Eveline tries to trick herself into thinking that life isn’t that bad. However, in reality she simply seems to greatly fear change because she does not know change.
Dublin has become part of Eveline. This area is the only place that gives Eveline a sense of security. She is too afraid to leave. She is trapped in Ireland perhaps?
“She had those whom she had known all her life about her.”
Most of her peers have moved on to a new life of which she is accustomed to. She is trapped in the familiarity of her setting.
If it were not for the setting of the story that is portrayed, as dull and plain one would not be able too fully understand Eveline which is how James Joyce done and believe worked wonderfully in making this short story seem life like. Due to Eveline being trapped in the setting of the story, one is fully able to comprehend many things about her attitude and sense of character which is one in whom is anxious, timid, scared and perhaps even terrified all these describe Eveline.
Eveline loves her father but is fearful of him. She tries to hold onto good memories of her father, thinking
“Sometimes he could be very nice”.
But has seen what her father and had to her and her bothers when he would as she says: “ hunt them out of the field with his blackthorn stick”.
The word hunt suggested that as if she were the prey and that her father was the predator hunting her down. This was a violent portrayal of her of her father.
Eveline wants a new life but is afraid to let go of her past. She dreams of a place where “ would treat her with respect” and when contemplating her future, hopes “ to explore a new life with frank”.
When in a moment of alert she realise that “ she must escape,” it seems to steel her determination to somehow make a new home for herself elsewhere. On the other hand, she is comfortable with the:
“Familiar objects from which she had never dreamed of begin divided”.
She also rationalises that:
“In her home anyway she had shelter and food; she had those whom she had known all her life about her”.
Something frank could not guarantee her.
However Eveline wants to keep her mothers deathbed pledge she made but is alarmed at the fact of sharing her mother’s fate. As her mother was badly treated in life and that Eveline vowed that
“She would not be treated as her mother had been”.
As her mother had a life filled with hardship under
“Promise to keep the home together as long as she could”.
Eveline at this point is confused and is uncertain of what to do and preys “ to god to direct her, to show her what was her duty”.
Eveline believes in Frank but is apprehensive about her future with him. She likes Frank; she thinks he
“Was very kind, mainly, open-hearted”.
She very much wants to believe in Frank to believe as she says:
“ He would give her life, perhaps, love too”.
This shows that she does not love Frank and is hoping to maybe love when they have gone away together.
However, she is again riddled with self-doubt. She questions the validity of her decision to leave. Although as she says:
“She consented to go away, to leave her home”.
She asks herself thinks like “ was that wise” again doubting herself”.
She hesitates at the thought of living in a distant unknown country.
It seems as if fear is Eveline’s companion. A companion that contributes greatly to her lack of self-confidence. It is her fear, which gives way to dream of seeing the beautiful things the world has to offer. Therefore, Eveline’s indecision to leave with Frank leads to a paralysis that dooms her to a fate she sought to avoid.
