Eveline (Notes)

1. Why did Eveline review all the familiar objects at home?

Ans: Eveline went through all the familiar objects in her house because
she felt nostalgic as she prepared to go with her lover Frank. Her happy
and wonderful memories from her youth flashed before her eyes.
2. Where was Eveline planning to go?
Ans: Eveline intended to flee her home with her lover and begin a new,
respectable life in Buenos Aires, far away from her father and his boring
lifestyle.
3. Who was Frank? Why did Eveline’s father quarrel with him?
Ans: Frank was a talented Irish sailor whom Eveline admired. He was a
sweet, open-hearted man who wished to marry her. Eveline’s father had a
falling out with him after he found out about his romance with Eveline.
4. What significance does Eveline find in the organ player's
appearance on the day she decides to leave?
Ans: Eveline was reminded of the street organ that played the night
before her mother died, as well as her mother's way of life. She
remembered the vow she made to her mother before she died as she had
made her decision to go. She vowed to keep the house for as long as she
was able.
Understanding the Text
1. Name the two characters in this story whom Eveline liked and
loved, and who did not. What were the reasons for her feelings
towards them?
Ans: The two characters in the story who Eveline liked were her mother
and Frank. She loved her mother as she used to care for everyone in the
family, for her mother’s family was above all. Her mother used to bear
torture inflicted by her husband. Frank was her love. He wanted to marry
Eveline and he promised her to give her happiness and fill the loneliness
of her life. The two characters she most disliked were her father and Miss
Gavan. She was never loved by her father, he would get drunk and had
always been harsh to her. Miss Gavan was always rude and tried to
criticize her.
2. Describe the conflict of emotions felt by Eveline on the day she
decided to elope with Frank.
Ans: Eveline loved Frank. Both have decided to marry and start a new life.
It was not simple for her, on the day when she had to elope with Frank, all
memories of her childhood flashed in front of her eyes like a movie. She
remembered how her brothers Ernest and Harry played together. Little

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Keogh used to keep an eye like nix, to inform them of their father’s arrival.
If their father found them playing, he used to beat them with a stick. Now
nobody was there to protect her. Ernest and her mother had passed away
now and Harry was in the decorating business of the church and was
almost always down somewhere in the country. She wanted to escape and
start a new life with her love Frank and wanted to enjoy life. On the other
hand, she remembered the promise given to her mother that she would
keep the home together as long as she could. This thought shook her and
made it difficult for her to go with Frank.
3. Why do you think Eveline let go of the opportunity to escape?
Ans: Eveline missed the opportunity to escape with her liver Frank due to
her responsibilities towards her home. She hated her father and at the
same time, she was worried about him. She had promised her mother that
she would never let her home separate and would keep the family
together. Her duties to the wards of her family were more important than
escaping from her house for her happiness.
4. What are the signs of Eveline's indecision that we see as the
hour of her departure with Frank neared?
Ans: She became restless when the day of escaping with Frank
approached, thousands of thoughts came into her mind whether she was
doing right or not. She felt nausea and turned pale out of fear. She prayed
to God to show her divine light and the right path. God listened to her
prayer and showed her the right path then she decided not to move away
from her duties and skipped the idea of running away with Frank.
Talking about the Text
1. Deciding between filial duty and the right to personal
happiness is problematic. Discuss.
Ans: Eveline had a great opportunity to lead a happy life but she faced a
constant dilemma of choosing her responsibilities and happiness. She
could not run away from the promise given to her mother. She could have
ignored her duties and promises given to her mother but she was kind-
hearted. She chose her family, not her dreams. It shows that she was not
selfish. Often a person has a dilemma of choosing between personal
happiness and duties towards family. Eveline had gone through a similar
experience and had quarrelled between thoughts of past and present. She
made a great decision which shows she was not selfish.
Appreciation
1. The description in this story has symbolic touches.
What do you think the 'window', the ‘gathering dusk', and the
'dusty cretonne and its odour' symbolise?

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Ans: The different symbolic terms give different meanings, ‘Window’ – It is
narrated that the outside world is unfamiliar to her. She was comfortable
with people familiar to her for a long time. She had accepted her life as it
was, aimless, full of miseries. She thought the whole world outside would
never accept her. Dust represents end and lifelessness. Eveline always
worked hard to fulfil the demands of her father. She always paid her
wages of seven shillings to her father. In return, her father never gave her
money as she had no head. Eveline was leading a dull and paralysed life.
Dust gave a sense of similarity as it always returned to her like her
memories. She tried to dust her previous memories but the next moment
again it came back. Dusty cretonne and its scent - Cretonne had a
substantial cotton texture having a floral pattern on it. In the initial scene,
it was portrayed that her head was inclined toward the window blinds and
in her nose was the smell of cretonne.
2. Note how the narrative proceeds through the consciousness of
Eveline.
Ans: It would be right to say the narrator proceeds through Eveline’s
consciousness. The story starts with an opening scene in which Eveline
goes through the stream of her life journey. There is a glow of memories
from her childhood. In real life, most of the actions don’t take place. When
a person’s thoughts and conscious reactions to the event then
consciousness is considered as a literary device. The writer has narrated
the emotions of Eveline in a precise way.
3. In the last section of the story, notice these expressions
(i) A bell clanged upon her heart.
(ii) All the seas of the world tumbled upon her heart.
(iii) Her hands clutched the iron in a frenzy.
(iv) She sat her white face to him, passive, like a helpless animal.
What are the emotions that these images evoke?
Ans: All the above-depicted expressions emerged as emotions of
confusion and helped consciousness. Eveline was in trouble cognizance
befuddled about whether she should move forward with Frank for her
happiness or proceed with her obligation towards her family. Then she
remembered the promise given to her mother of not separating the family.
These thoughts filled her heart with heaviness and could see her
boundaries, it made it difficult for her to escape with Frank.
4. Do you think the author indicates his judgment of Eveline in
the story?
Ans: There was a continuous flow of thoughts and conflict between past
and present. These thoughts could not allow Eveline to cross the

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boundaries and run away with her lover. This is the theme of the story.
The author could not make a judgment on Eveline.
5. What is the theme in "Eveline"?
The theme in 'Eveline' revolves around the idea of paralysis and the
inability to break out of situations that have become home for us, even
when those situations are unpleasant or worse - to break free from
oppressive situations, symbolized by Eveline's indecision to leave her
oppressive father. Despite recognizing her miserable life, Eveline's
attachment to her familiar yet unpleasant environment prevents her from
leaping to a potentially better life.
Extra questions
1. What symbols are used in Joyce's "Eveline"?
Ans: In Joyce's "Eveline," several symbols are employed to represent
varying aspects of Eveline's life and perceptions. The window symbolizes
her perspective of the world as a frightening unknown. Dust represents
the familiar aspects of her life and the stifling conditions she lives in. The
field symbolizes her childhood freedom, while the 'bright brick houses'
that replace it represent her current restrictions. The broken harmonium
and yellowing photograph symbolize loss. The evening represents time
running out, the railing signifies her fear of leaving her known life, and the
sea symbolizes the uncertainty of a new life. Finally, Buenos Ayres,
translating to "good air," stands as a promise of a better life conflicting
with her oppressive sense of duty.
2. Why did Eveline let go of the opportunity to escape?
Ans: Eveline let go of the opportunity to escape as she felt a sense of
obligation to her family and home. She is afraid of the unknown. Thus, the
prospect of leaving everything she knows behind and starting a new life in
a foreign country with a man she barely knows is overwhelming.

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