Saturday, September 17, 2016

Explain how "Eveline" by James Joyce makes its point. Also, what is the point of the story?

I'm not sure if this is simply the assignment you have been given, but I would resist ever thinking of stories as having a single point or theme. Joyce, like most great authors, creates believable characters and puts them into realistic situations, then watches them grapple with essential human questions. In this sense the point of the story is Eveline herself.


Joyce famously believed that through the specific we gain insight into the universal. This...

I'm not sure if this is simply the assignment you have been given, but I would resist ever thinking of stories as having a single point or theme. Joyce, like most great authors, creates believable characters and puts them into realistic situations, then watches them grapple with essential human questions. In this sense the point of the story is Eveline herself.


Joyce famously believed that through the specific we gain insight into the universal. This is very much the case with this character. Eveline struggles with troubles from her past, including memories of her abusive father and the loss of loved ones. She considers the possibility of leaving Ireland with her lover, but the power of her emotions overwhelms her. She is seemingly paralyzed. By observing this character we gain insight into larger human questions surrounding grief and human choices. Do we learn helplessness in the face of immense struggle? Is there something about hardship that draws us even closer to a place or situation? Only by diving into one very specific person can Joyce tackle these larger questions.

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