Dr. Joseph Suglia Commentary on Eveline by James Joyce - Article Analysis Essay

Introduction

In a lifetime, we tend to make different decisions which might affect our future in one way or another in that they can either benefit us or destroy us. Sometimes, it is always hard to fight the "fear of the unknown," and this can prevent us from making some life choices. In Joyce short story "Eveline," Eveline is a 19-year-old girl who has the opportunity to run away with his lover Frank and secure her future. However, Eveline decides not to go on with the plan and backs out at the last minute. I agree with the Commentary by Dr.Joseph Suglia that Eveline is immobile and she has her reason not to flee."She is immobile from the beginning of the story unto its end." (Suglia 2015).This paper focuses on views why I agree that Eveline has her reasons for been immobile and understanding why Eveline made the decision not run with Frank ranging from her attachment to her home, the fact that Frank is not very well known to her and lack of courage to leave.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Eveline's Lack of Knowledge and Love for Frank

One of the main reasons I think Eveline decides to stay back is that she does not know Frank very well neither does she love Frank that much to run with him. She only knows what Frank says. "Tales of distant countries" (Joyce 1914).The use of tales means that Frank is a liar and that he is probably not telling the truth. All that she knows about Frank is just what He tells her, and there is no way she can confirm whether it is true or not. Eveline father warns her about meeting Frank because he knows how sailors behave and when she decides not to go with Frank, we learn that she does not love him "gave him no sign of love or farewell or recognition."(Joyce 1914).

Eveline's Attachment to Her Home

Another reason is that Eveline is attached to her home despite the suffering she goes through. She is the only girl in their home, and she takes care of her two brothers, and now her mother is dead as well as one of the brothers. Eveline decided her dying mother to keep the house together. She is willing to keep the promise she made to her mother and take care of her abusive dad, Harry and the house in general. It is hard to break the promise she made to her mother. "Keep the home together as long as she could." (Joyce, 1914).

Eveline's Lack of Courage to Leave

Eveline does not have the courage to run away with Frank and leave her home. She justifies her fear by convincing herself that her life is not that bad, but according to how Joyce describes her life, we can see that she has a miserable life. She fears her father very much and feels threatened by his violent behavior. She uses the good memories she had with a father a long time ago to convince herself that he is not that bad. Even though she has the opportunity to have a good future, she feels that her home can still food and shelter, and that's all that she wants.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Joseph Suglia Commentary on Eveline by James Joyce clearly shows the various things which stopped her from fleeing with her lover. Joyce argues that Eveline does not have the courage and she does not know Frank that much. All these issues push her to choose to stay rather than beginning a new life with an unknown person, perhaps that man is just like her father.

References

Suglia, J.(2015, June 17).A Commentary on Eveline. (1904-1907; published in 1914), from James Joyce's Dubliners.

Joyce, J.(1914).Eveline. (1904-1907); Dubliners Retrieved on 29th January 2018 from https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/j/joyce/james/j8d/chapter4.html