Eveline’s Destiny
Joyce’s character Eveline desire’s more out of life. More happiness, respect, and love. She analyzes her past, her present, and dreams of the future. All the while seeking for someone else to provide the happiness she so longs for. Someone to come and take away all her pain and responsibility so she can live happily ever after. She must choose her destiny. Should she stay at home with her familiar yet unhappy life, or should she go away with Frank and leave her home like the others? Perhaps her mother’s last words will help her decide in the end, “Derevaun Seraun!” (513). The end of pleasure is pain.
Eveline remembers happiness and friendship in her past. Her life was more pleasurable when her mother was alive. Her father was much nicer to her then, he never abused her as he would her brothers. Playing in the field across the street every evening with her siblings and friends, brought Eveline much happiness until her father would chase them down waving his blackthorn stick. While reminiscing, memories of the deaths of her brother Ernest, Tizzie Dunn, and her mother came to her mind. Her promise she made to her mother cries in her head, “keep the home together for as …show more content…
She lives in fear of her father’s violence, even though she is nineteen. “He began to threaten her and say what he would do to her only for her dead mother’s sake.” (514). With her brothers gone, she has nobody to protect her, yet her familiar objects surrounding her bring her comfort and a sense of belonging. Since her father has aged, she is sure he will miss her. He could be nice at times. She had food and shelter, “she did not find it a wholly undesirable life.” (514). When her father found out that Frank was courting her, he said, “I know these sailor chaps.” (514). Then he had a fight with Frank and forbid Eveline from speaking to him. (513). Her only pleasure is found in meeting her lover, Frank