The State Of Paralysis In Eveline

The Feared Change
In the story Eveline, there is a young woman who is trying to decide whether or not to leave her hometown with her new boyfriend or to stay in her hometown with her abusive fathers and haunting memories. Eveline has a troubled past and deeply wants to escape, but she has personal difficulties causing her decision difficult to make. In the story Eveline written by James Joyce the death of Eveline’s mother greatly impacts her decision to leave, however Eveline lets those around her influence her decision until Eveline remains in a state of paralysis. When Eveline’s mother died, she was immensely impacted. She saw how her mother acted and was treated by society. James Joyce writes, “She would not be treated as her mother had
She is stuck in her hometown, stuck with the people she is accustomed to, she is stuck living the life she clearly does not want to live. For instance, Joyce writes, “wondering where on earth all the dust came from” (Joyce). The objects in her home are stuck in one place just like Eveline is. Eveline is choosing to remain in a state of paralysis, even though she regularly thinks about leaving. Furthermore, the narrator says, “her promise to keep the home together as long as she could” (Joyce). Eveline is stuck in this state of paralysis partially because of the promise she made while her mother was on her deathbed. She promised her mother that she would take care of their household, which she intends on keeping her promise. In continuance Joyce states, “She was to go away with him by the night-boat” (Joyce). Eveline is at the peer she is ready to leave this boat is her escape. The boat could be her get away from the life she does not want to continue living. Florence L. Walzl reviewed Eveline and says “She is caught in a death trap, doomed by paralysis of will born to timidity and a mistaken sense of obligation” (Walzl). In Walzl’s review he finds that Eveline’s state of paralysis has doomed her by forcing her to stay in one place, her