Sebastian Rothwyn
English 11
Professor Alex Alvarez
May 17, 2011
Honor Thy Family
In a puritanical society, the desires of the heart can be seen as sins against God. In such a society the bonds of family are greater than those outside of this construct. Regardless of the compulsion to do that which ones desires, the greater compulsion is to honor the wishes of the family.
In James Joyce’s Eveline, it is clearly illustrated that although Eveline longed for the freedom of her early youth, without responsibilities and expectations, but found that she could not give up these aspects of her life because she felt obligated to do so. In the past she “seemed to have been rather happy then.”
Everyone who left the hometown seemed to have also left the pain of their upbringing behind. The only other option appeared to be death. Eveline desired to be free of these trappings but her budding maturity around the age of nineteen compelled her to consider all of the angles of her decision and its effects.
Frank, the sailor, brought a sense of excitement and adventure to Eveline’s life, but her father remarked that he knew “these sailor chaps” and the tone was that of the sailor type having relationships that are not genuine: the type of relationship opposite of that which Eveline desired. Whether this was true or not, she tried to make the relationship work despite the fight Frank and her father had, the thought was planted in her mind.
Eveline’s desire to be free of her bonds, and be with her lover, drove her to push these thoughts from her mind and attempt to follow through with her plans to escape with Frank. When she considered her mother’s life and that which she lacked in it, Eveline felt compelled to leave and in a fit of insanity, she was swept up in the concept that leaving with Frank would help her claim the desires she had and free her of her bonds. However, all that she had been told and raised with which tied her to her family and her duty, made her feel compelled by those familial bonds to at least consider the possibility that her father might be correct in his attitude; and that breaking her promise to her mother might make her an unfaithful child. Eveline, at the moment of decision, knew in her heart that she could not, because she would dishonor her family, in her mind, by doing what she desired. What she desired was a sin against her family that she could not take back, if she left the country for good.Joyce, James. “Eveline”. Print.
English 11
Professor Alex Alvarez
May 17, 2011
Honor Thy Family
In a puritanical society, the desires of the heart can be seen as sins against God. In such a society the bonds of family are greater than those outside of this construct. Regardless of the compulsion to do that which ones desires, the greater compulsion is to honor the wishes of the family.
In James Joyce’s Eveline, it is clearly illustrated that although Eveline longed for the freedom of her early youth, without responsibilities and expectations, but found that she could not give up these aspects of her life because she felt obligated to do so. In the past she “seemed to have been rather happy then.”
Everyone who left the hometown seemed to have also left the pain of their upbringing behind. The only other option appeared to be death. Eveline desired to be free of these trappings but her budding maturity around the age of nineteen compelled her to consider all of the angles of her decision and its effects.
Frank, the sailor, brought a sense of excitement and adventure to Eveline’s life, but her father remarked that he knew “these sailor chaps” and the tone was that of the sailor type having relationships that are not genuine: the type of relationship opposite of that which Eveline desired. Whether this was true or not, she tried to make the relationship work despite the fight Frank and her father had, the thought was planted in her mind.
Eveline’s desire to be free of her bonds, and be with her lover, drove her to push these thoughts from her mind and attempt to follow through with her plans to escape with Frank. When she considered her mother’s life and that which she lacked in it, Eveline felt compelled to leave and in a fit of insanity, she was swept up in the concept that leaving with Frank would help her claim the desires she had and free her of her bonds. However, all that she had been told and raised with which tied her to her family and her duty, made her feel compelled by those familial bonds to at least consider the possibility that her father might be correct in his attitude; and that breaking her promise to her mother might make her an unfaithful child. Eveline, at the moment of decision, knew in her heart that she could not, because she would dishonor her family, in her mind, by doing what she desired. What she desired was a sin against her family that she could not take back, if she left the country for good.Joyce, James. “Eveline”. Print.
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