Eveline, By James Joyce (1914)

 Eveline, By James Joyce (1914)

6/10

 

Although I did not understand the meaning of the term ‘Derevaun seraun’, I supposed it was an important clue to understand the story. When I looked up this term, I learned it is an Irish Gaelic sentence that means ‘Pleasure ends in pain’.

I think this is the main theme of this story, and also the reason why Eveline gave up on her new life with Frank. After pondering, she must have concluded that the happiness Frank will provide to her would someday end into another painful life, just like how her years as a child ended into the sad life she has to face now. Maybe Eveline was afraid that her life would end up just like her mother’s, considering that the repeated screaming of the mother might have been a warning for her daughter,

Still, whatever the reasons, I couldn’t agree less with the choice Eveline made. How can one be so afraid of negative changes that she gives up the positive changes? It lacks normal sense. The author did a great job describing Eveline’s feelings, but I think the plot is very hard to relate to.

Thus, I rated this story six out of ten.

(199 words)

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