Memory

Eveline can remember, as a child, playing across the road from her home, in a field that no longer exists.
This is significant as it suggests that in some ways Eveline is lamenting the past, a past when she
remembers her life was easier. It is also significant that Eveline mentions her mother and father when she
is recalling playing in the field. This is important as there is a sense that Evelines life was happier or
easier when her mother was alive. By mentioning her father and mother, it also connects Eveline to both.
A connection that Eveline finds hard to break.

Responsibility
When her mother died she made a promise to her, which is to keep their family together.

Isolation
Dubliners has some profoundly lonely characters in it, but the theme of isolation does not end there.
Isolation is not only a matter of living alone; it comes from the recognition that a man or woman's
subjectivity is only their own, inaccessible to all others. Failed communication is common throughout the
stories. In other stories, conversations are striking for how little meaningful communication takes place.
Eveline is alone throughout most of the story. She feels isolated and unable to share her feelings and
wishes with Frank and her brother Harry.

Decisions/Conflict
Eveline has a major decision to make. Whether or not to move to Buenos Ayres (escape) with Frank. She
is torn between staying at home and looking after her father and younger siblings or moving to Argentina.
Again this is significant as it suggests an internal conflict within Eveline. Despite it being clear to the
reader that Evelines father is an abusive, controlling and domineering man, who spends a lot of time
drinking, Eveline still has a strong sense of compassion for him.

Escape
Certainly, she has every reason to leave. The portrait we have of her family life is less than heart-
warming. We see that she has taken on an incredible part of the burden in keeping the family together, as
her mother did before her. Her father, despite the points he wins for not beating her, is a domineering
violent and unfair man, who makes his daughter work and then keeps her wages. Rather than appreciate
her sacrifices, he ridicules her.

Guilt

The element of guilt that Eveline feels regards her promise to her mother is also a factor in holding her
back and stopping her from leaving for Argentina with Frank. However despite her promise to her mother
to keep the home together as long as she could, Evelines memory of her mothers death acts as the
impetus for her to finally realise that she has to leave her father and move to Buenos Ayres. There is
possibly an awareness within Eveline that she does not want to live and suffer as her mother did (living
with her father). However this epiphany (of realising she must leave her father and Dublin), is short lived.

Imprisonment
Eveline is a young woman crushed by the stifling conditions that entrap her at home . most of the
characters are is some way imprisoned. The entrapment is often caused by a combination of
circumstances: poverty, social pressure, family situation.

Paralysis
As Eveline is sitting by the window she notices all the familiar objects around her and despite dusting
them every week, the dust remains. Evelines action, of dusting every week for so many years is
significant as it suggests repetition, doing the same thing, which in turn would suggest a paralysis within
Eveline. It is also significant that the dust remains. This suggests that no matter how much Eveline does
while at home nothing will change. Little Keogh, the cripple is also symbolically important as he in some
ways acts as foreshadowing in the story. Like Little Keogh, Eveline too by the end of the story remains
crippled or stuck to the past unable to move to Buenos Ayres with Frank. There are also further examples
of paralysis in the story. At the beginning of the story, Eveline is sitting by the window. Later as the story
progresses Joyce tells the reader that Eveline continued to sit by the window, leaning her head against the
window curtain, inhaling the odour of dusty cretonne. In many ways this line mirrors the opening lines of
the story which in turn would suggest a paralysis within Eveline.

Despite knowing she would be better off going to Buenos Ayres (escape) with Frank, and starting a new
life, Eveline still finds it difficult to let go, which again suggests to the reader a state of paralysis. Even
when she is standing by the dock with Frank, she remains unsure of what to do and through prayer, seeks
guidance. This is significant as it suggests that Eveline is relying on someone else (God) to help her make
up her mind. Just as she relied on little Keogh to keep nix when she was younger and she relied on her
mothers calming influence over her father, Eveline is stuck (paralysed) at the dock relying on someone
else again. In some ways she has not moved on from the past nor has she let it go.

Epiphany

The first epiphany, most certainly secular, occurs when Eveline is jolted to action at the remembrance of
her mother repeating the nonsensical phrase, Derevaun Seraun. As Eveline prepares to leave, she
experiences another epiphany. A bell clanged upon her heart. The vision is of drowning.

Stream of Consciousness

The description of Evelines thoughts and emotions dominate the text; most of the action (there is
virtually none) takes place within Eveline head. The words convey her thoughts, emotions and memories
rather than describing a series of events.

Irish Social Conditions and Emigration

Ireland has endured waves of emigration, particularly after the Potato Famine of 1848. Many left their
native land to seek a better life elsewhere. The Irish were second-class citizens within their own nation;
Ireland was a British colony and the Northern Protestants controlled the economy of the country. Catholic
families often faced hardship. Alcoholism and abuse, as portrayed in Eveline were common. As a result,
many of the Irish looked for escape.