Eveline

In many short stories a character must face a difficult situation and make a choice. In a

story you read this semester, discuss the situation a character faces and the choice he or

she makes. Is the choice justifies? Give reason and examples to support your position."

Of course, just as in many short stories a character must face a difficult situation and

make a choice, in real life every person has a similar situation when he or she has to

make a decision. This is a very important issue. In the short story "Eveline" James Joyce

portrays the life of a young woman who faces dilemma whether to leave her house in

search of a new life or to stay in the dreary and gloomy life that she already knows.

Eveline is a nineteen-year old girl. She lives with her father and two younger siblings.

Her mother and one of her older brothers have died and she has another older brother

who works away from home. Eveline works in a store does all the housework at home

and looks after the family. Eveline's days resemble one to another and are painted in

gray. Her father treats her without love. He takes all the money that Eveline earns and

sometimes she cannot even buy necessary things. Even more, he is an abusive drinker,

and Eveline gets "palpitations" as she sometimes feels herself in danger of her father's

violence. When Eveline sits at the window, she notices a man walking to one of the new

red house, this is "...not like their little brown houses but bright houses with shining

roofs". The little brown house represents her familiar and dreary life at home, while the

shining red houses represent her opportunity to begin a journey to happier life.

One day she meets a young sailor whose name is Frank. She describes him as "very

kind, manly open-hearted". Frank knows her family situation and asks Eveline to marry

him and go to Buenos Ayres where he has a home and relatives. He promises her a new

wealthy life. Although Eveline really likes Frank, what she knows about Frank is only

what he tells her. As for her father, he doesn't like him; he prohibits her to see him. "I

know these sailor chaps" he says. Even though she understands that it may be the last

chance to change her life, she is scared to lose her little world that she knows well.

Eveline has to make a choice about her future. Her choices are to stay home with