Ishika Momin

Yana | Grace
ELA P4
10.07.16
Eveline | Literary Analysis
An author's attitude towards men and women can influence how they portray them in their writing.
James Joyce portrays women differently compared to men in his story. In Joyces
Eveline, the protagonist
of the same name internally struggles with choosing to stay home or leave and start a new beginning. Some
of the challenges Eveline faces and her beliefs reflect the idea that women lack independence and are
indecisive. Also, the men in her life dictate parts of her and follow an ideal that they are more powerful.
Through the use of internal conflict and characterization, Joyce portrays that women are weak and
dependent on men who are controlling and dominant in his story Eveline.
Women are portrayed to be weak and reliant on men by James Joyce in his story. Eveline battles with
making a decision to either stick to her familiar surroundings or leave and start a new future. The two things
that keep her from staying or leaving are her father and love interest whom are both men. Even after
mentioning that her father is abusive, she defends him when she thinks, ...father was becoming old
lately...he would miss her. Sometimes he could

be very nice. (Joyce, 3). She even speaks about how he

controls the money she makes and how he had forbidden her (Joyce, 3) to date her lover, Frank. The
father is shown to dictate many parts of her life and she obliges to all of his rules. Instead of making her
own decisions, she lets her father impact the choices she make. Also, Joyce shows how a man affects the
reputation of a woman. Eveline believes that once she is married to Frank, people would treat her with
respect, (Joyce, 2). She assumes that people will treat her differently once she has the title of a married
woman. James Joyces attitude towards women is that they lack power and rely on men. This can be seen in
his story Eveline because the female protagonist submits to her demanding father and lets the men in her life
affect her decisions.
Men are portrayed to have more power and independence
in Joyces story Eveline. The two men that
greatly affect Evelines decision are her father and soon to be husband, Frank. Her father is described to
have the most authority in the family. He makes Eveline use all her money to provide for the family. She
has to work to keep the house together and see that the two young children who had been left to her charge
went to school regularly and got their meals regularly. (Joyce, 2). He decides how Eveline should spend
her money in order to benefit the family. He also abuses his children which causes her to fear him and
might even influence why she chooses to obey him. Also, Frank is portrayed to have much more
independence than Eveline. He had tales of distant countries (Joyce, 2) and is allowed to travel where he
wants. Unlike Eveline who needs Frank to save her from her past life, he is able to make his own
decisions. Eveline does not have the choice to travel freely without her fathers disapproval. Joyces attitude
towards men is that they have more control and can live for themselves.
James Joyce presents women as weak and dependent on men while presenting men as the opposite;
powerful and independent. Eveline is shown to obey her dads rules and have her life controlled by him.
Her father is portrayed to have power over her life while Frank has power over his own. This shows how
Joyce portrays both men and women differently in his story.

Ishika Momin
Yana | Grace
ELA P4
10.07.16
Eveline | Planning
Women

Eveline
Weak does not defend herself
against her father.

Men

Dependent believes Frank can

save her.

Submissive obliges to all of

her fathers rules.

Evelines Father
Abusive he uses violence with
his children.
Powerful
he controls Eveline
and dictates parts of her life.
Frank
Independent is allowed to
travel freely.

Evelines Mother
Sacrificed for her family.

Believes Eveline should hold

family together like she did.
Observations

Men have more freedom.

Women relied on men to be their saviors.
Women are responsible for caring and holding a family together.

Outline
Claim: Women are weak and dependent on men who are controlling and dominant.
Evidence:
Father having control he had forbidden her (Pg. 2)
Eveline having to provide for family work to keep the house together and see that the two
young children who had been left to her charge went to school regularly and got their meals
regularly. (Pg. 2)
Frank having freedom he had tales of distant countries Pg.2)
Goals
Prove how Eveline is portrayed as weak and reliant on men.
Prove how the men in her life influence her decisions.