Eveline

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). eveline, life, joyce, frank, promise, coward, story, new, loved, leaving, away, one, love, live, leave, family, because, start, seas, rejection, own, living, knows, give, feel, father, escape, courage, chance, about, world, way, truly, though, think