Eveline
James Joyce
Cultural references in the text -> Exile in
Switzerland and constant reference to Ireland.
1st published in 1914 but critics say it
was ready by 1905 or 1907.
Joyce said about Dubliners: “A chapter of the moral
history of my country”
Dublin -> decay, ugliness, evil, perversion ->
“the center of paralysis” -> nationalism, religion -> discomfort in
relation to his origins and profession as an artist –
Bloomsday – 16th June
*Things like history, family, past, roots stop Eveline
from changing her life.
Short story – one significant moment in the life of a
character, a moment of crisis that contains its whole life. (definition)
Interplay between Past-Present is constant in the
story.
3rd person narrator.
Closeness to the object
Adjectives: dusty, yellowing, decay
Eveline: sees, hears (no action) in the scene
description
*In opposition to the scene (present) we have a narrative
summary (past).
“everything changes”. No commas in the text. Free
indirect speech.
Home relates to food and shelter but not love.
Violence and money questions. Emotional deprivation
from her father.
In spite of all difficulties, she doesn’t find it
wholly undesirable.
Narrative summary for Frank (the opposite of her
father)
The dusty Dublin x Buenos Aires (Good Airs)
-> Back to the window and the Present, some time has
elapsed (time is moving), tension is subtle and subdued
Eveline is still and quiet but there’s an internal
turmoil.
First move – she jumps
In the quay the boat symbolises escape, new life.
Bell -> in her heart and on the boat
Sea -> Idea of crossing, where the vessel is the mean, but she’s not
able to make it.
