IES 9 007

Idioma III
Gabriela Matar
2013
Argumentative essay on Eveline (James Joyce)

What would you do if you had the chance to leave all your problems behind and travel
abroad with someone that would take care of you? Would you leave your family, your duty, and
the life you know? Even if your life is not perfect, many things will hold you on to your normal
life, and the responsibilities you may have towards your family, and acquaintances. And
wouldnt that new life ahead be as difficult but uncertain at the same time? Some people may
think that in the short story Eveline by James Joyce, the protagonist was wrong for not
taking the opportunity of escaping from the tough life she had. Probably that solution would
work for someone else, but the following arguments will show why Evelines decision was the
right choice for her to take.
The first point to be raised is that a new and different life could have presented
unknown problems for her. A new Life in Buenos Ayres with Frank would have meant a
different freedom, but also different risks. However, there was no sign showing that Frank
would be a better man or husband for Eveline or that leaving home was going to be the best
thing for her. Secondly, as she analyzed her decision, she found that her life was not bad. She
remembered back when her mother was alive, and how good her father had been sometimes.
She considered the fact that in her current life she was guaranteed food and shelter, even if
she was expected to maintain a household. Eveline had a hard life, but it was hers, she knew
it, and she could handle it, a new life might have been quite as hard and even worst, because
of the unknown. In conclusion, Eveline might have had an easier life in Buenos Ayres with her
lover Frank, but that future was uncertain and unfamiliar, so she made the right choice of
staying in Dublin and living her life, which was hard but which she already knew how to
handle.
The second argument is that Eveline did the right thing by thinking first of the people
she loved rather than herself. To begin with, the girl had made a promise to her mother. The
girl had promise to keep the home together as long as she could. The same day she was to
leave off with Frank, Eveline heard the same song that was playing the night before her
mother died, and the memory of that promise made her rethink before she made a decision.
Another fact that supports this idea is the duty Eveline had towards her father. Even though
her father was an alcohol dependant and a violent person, she felt that the man was growing
old and if she left he would miss her. Besides she had to keep the house together, and help him
economically. And finally she had to take care of the children. Two young children had been left

IES 9 007
Idioma III
Gabriela Matar
2013
to her charge, Eveline had to make sure they went to school and got their meals regularly. It
seems that Eveline was very important to her family, and caring about them helped her to
make the right decision.
Finally, it is necessary to take into account the good consequences of her decision.
Firstly, Evelines decision to stay home made sense because it is not a fact that she was in love
with Frank. Eveline was just using Frank to get away or cover the unhappiness that was shown
on her face. Frank would take her in his arms, fold her in his arms. He would save her.
Eveline wanted someone who could protect her, give her happiness so she could forget every
situation that went on between her and her father. Also, it can be said that she was free now
from the oppression of having to decide between her family and a man. When the ship was
about to leave she was desperately undecided, so she prayed to God to direct her, and to show
her which her duty was. Definitively Eveline needed to make a last decision for her own good,
to set herself free and to stand by herself, in order not to become like her mother, who had
been subjected by her father. The mentioned decision marked Evelines fate, and set her free
from her internal controversy, which is a good consequence.
There are some people that think Evelines decision was wrong. Opponents argue that
Eveline made the wrong decision because her life was tougher by working inside and outside
the house. Taking care of the family is not easy because she had other siblings to take care of,
and she had to give all the money to her father to support the family. However, Eveline is used
to these everyday problems and nobody knows what kind of different or even worse problems
she would face in a different life so far away from everyone and everything she knows. As long
as she is capable of taking care of her family, she would be fine, but she could not be sure that
it would be the same living in America with Frank.
There are many good arguments that support Evelines decision. Even though some
opinions against the decision may be well justified for similar cases, in Evelines case, to stay in
Dublin was the best choice, because she had a promise to keep, a family to take care of, and
because the future with Frank was uncertain and she could not be sure that her life would
actually be easier in Buenos Ayres. If there really was a good or a bad decision to take, Eveline
took the right one, she would now continue living her normal life, but also, she would feel
better because she was able to take an import decision and stand by herself.