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Chandra wrote: Oh, what a sad story this one is. Joyce has told the story in a masterly way. As I read the story, I could very well feel the anguish of the young woman, the way she was torn between duty and desires, known and the unknown. Joyce must have felt great compassion for Eveline, or for women who were imprisoned - mentally - by parents, and children who were burdened by the duty of fulfilling their parents's wishes at death bed. This girl is like a trapped animal. Look at the last sentence of the story where this feeling is very well expressed: "She set her white face to him, passive, like a helpless animal. Her eyes gave him no sign of love or farewell or recognition. " I think that Joyce is telling here that the family chains which bind one are very strong often. The chain may be rotten, corroded, dirty, "Her head was leaned against the window curtains, and in her nostrils was the odour of dusty cretonne. She was tired." but one cannot easily break away from the bondage. (This death wish scene is very Indian too. We have innumerable movies, and books (at least in Kannada if not in urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and Bengali ;-)) in which people are burdened with a wish expressed by a dying person.) The very beginning of the story is interesting and paves way for what comes later. The view out of the window stands for what life can be, "not like their little brown houses, but bright brick houses with shining roofs." and what it actually is - full of dust "Home! She looked round the room, reviewing all its familiar objects which she had dusted once a week for so many years, wondering where on earth all the dust came from." This dust could stand for traditions and rules that are practised in every family. Notice again the mention of the priest, a constant reminder of the rules laid down by the church. And the job she has does not give her any cause for happiness either. And Eveline is not a person who is loved. At the job, she does not matter, as "her place would be filled up by advertisement" At home the father has begun to threaten her, she has to shoulder great burdens to look after the home as long as she could. But why does Eveline not grab the happiness which comes her way? That she feels her life at home was not so undesireable after all, shows that she is not a brave person, certainly not a self-centered person. She even goes to see The Bohemian Girl. Does this title stand for what Eveline would/could never be - a carefree person- however much she wishes. Such a life is possible only in a dream world. Maureen asked, "what is it that joyce is trying to say about womens issues here? is this an early example of a feminist work? " If it is indeed such a work, then it is only partly so. If Eveline was truly feminist, she would have had no guilty feelings about leaving. It is as if Joyce feels sorry for such women, but would like to hold them back still. Is it because Joyce is a man, and cannot easily give freedom to his women? Or is Joyce telling us here that it needs lots of courage to break away from the known path, and that that courage does not come easily to all. I also found myself comparing this story with Araby, just as one would compare all later experiences with the first love, with the first child. What a big difference between the two stories though both of them do deal with love, and both end with anguish. Araby was like a joyful melody, where as Eveline is one of the saddest I know. Finally friends, if you have not yet read the story, do it at least now. It is easy to read and is sure to touch you. After you have read it, do tell us what you think of it. It is already Wednesday! Chandra |
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