To Stay or Go?

In this lifetime everyone withholds troubles that they may or may not have to overcome; however, in the story ” Eveline” by James Joyce she is facing a dire obstacle filled with stress that she must overcome, which is all linked to a major decision that she has to make. I believe that Eveline goes through the process of self-discovery.

A trip down memory lane is what Eveline took in her first attempt to find herself an answer. Realistically speaking, when making tough decisions in life we all tend to think back on the past as an attempt to capture closure. This attempt to capture closure is no more than a nonverbal way of saying she’s scared to make a decision. In Eveline’s case, she is making the biggest decision in her life and she’s lost like a puppy with no collar. Nevertheless, while deeply contemplating whether to move she starts to reminisce on her life and realizes that “her father was not so bad” (Joyce, 513). She’s now starting to think that maybe she shouldn’t move. ” Perhaps she would never see again those familiar objects from which she had never dreamed of being divided” (513). And that she should stay put and not risk losing something that she probably can’t retrieve if she leaves it. This step is Eveline’s first step on what I consider “Self Discovery”. Eveline actually thinks everything out and lets her thoughts wrap around her heart. Thinking independently and really thinking things out alone is a very important way to come to a solid decision. The first step in which she takes is a vital step that alternatively leads her to her decision.

”Promises are meant to be broken” is a phrase that lacks originality, but is used so often while before one breaks a promise. This cliché line doesn’t depict at all on Eveline...

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...le reminiscing on things that actually made her, herself in the first place.

In the beginning of the story she makes the decision to leave with her lover Frank in secret, but over time reminisces on the past. This allows her to come to the conclusion that maybe her life at home isn’t the worst option. With the factors of her promise to her mother only makes her decision even harder. Stuck as if she was a deer in headlights she stays. Eveline goes through a series of processes in which she contemplates furiously whether she should stay or go. Consequently, Eveline’s dilemma forced her to find herself. The trials that were brought upon her were pre-trials of self-discovery. These pre-trials caused her to make a choice that showed her true character. A character in which was discovered primarily through a process that led to her staying that became her final decision.