Why the Decision Eveline Made Is Bad Decision, Essay Example

A number of people in the society usually find it hard to make some tough decisions in life. Making decisions is one of the activities that can cause depression, despair as well as stressful life conditions (Hsee 134). Despite this, identifying the root cause of indecisiveness can solve the problem and motivate clear and rational decision-making process. The story of “Eveline” as narrated by James Joyce defines a sense of depression due to the fact that the young girl had to deal with unforeseen occurrence relating to the death of her mother which resulted to her becoming the primary care taker of her siblings. Having an abusive and alcoholic father did not make the situation any easier. It was almost as if she was living in paradise and suddenly had to live in hell for unprecedented reasons; somehow, she realized there was no escaping this fate.

The supposed escape she finally found was when she met Frank who soon offered her to leave her life with her father to come with him and live a married life with him; finally making him the princess of his life. Nevertheless, when the time finally came, Eveline surprisingly lets go of the opportunity and decided to stay with her father and her siblings. She knew that at this point, her promise to her mother counts more than her desire to be happy in her own life.

At some point, I do believe that Eveline may have made a bad decision. This is because staying with her father does not make her happy, and she faces a lot of problems and challenges in life. She has also missed a number of opportunities and possibilities that she could have enjoyed while staying with her boyfriend (Murphy 107). From the story, it is true that Eveline decision to stay and live with her abusive father was wrong and unwise. However, Eveline story is a clear indication that people in the society usually encounters difficult decision-making situations in life. In most cases, making the decision for conditions like this of Eveline is usually difficult mainly because there is no good or bad nor right or wrong decision or choice although a decision must be made (Joyce 66). How would you make a decision if the decision might have a possibility or opportunity to make your life better off? For example, would you choose to stay with the abusive father or leave with your boyfriend? This is the situation where Eveline finds herself in, and, therefore, she has to make a tough choice.

Many people in abusive family relationships usually find it hard to leave their parents mainly because the presence of the father or mother is only one in the world (Zennure 589).  The abusive relationship between father and children mostly creates a negative chain, and this is clearly evident in the story of Eveline. Just like any other person in abusive father and son or daughter relationship, Eveline is keeping the relationship simply because she thinks her father will change. She also remembers the times when her father was tender to her (Joyce 68).  However, the situation is becoming worse, and Eveline should just cut off the relationship with her father.  Moreover, Eveline has been in this situation since her mother passed away (Joyce 70).

At the middle of the story, Eveline confesses her fear towards her father. For example, she thinks and says, “Even now, though she was over nineteen, she sometimes felt that she was in danger due to her father’s violence (Joyce 72). This clearly indicates and demonstrates that she has been in this condition for long, and she mostly feels both mentally and physically abused by her father. Despite this, she cannot leave home with her boyfriend Frank since she constantly thinks and remembers the old times when her father was good and kind to her. This also indicates that she cannot cut off the negative relationship chain with her father despite feeling depressed and abused.

Her father is also obstructive for Eveline’s current situation in life since she is not financial stable. Her father is also addicted to alcohol thus exposing Eveline to a very difficult life at early adulthood. There are various steps and stages that people must undergo in life including going to school, completing school, getting employment, leaving home as well as marrying and later on having children.  In the case of Eveline, she stops at the first stage because of her father’s abusive behaviors.  This is because her father does not allow her enough freedom. In most cases, she spends time as if she is the caregiver of her father.

She is working full-time at home especially doing domestic activities and routines. Her father also forbade her boyfriend and asked her why she needs money. Every Saturday night her father conflicts her about money especially after drinking alcohol. This is enough evidence that living under her father is just obstructive to Eveline’s life. For example, she says, “Why should she be unhappy? She had a right to happiness” (Joyce 74). Eveline cannot be happy while living with her father.

Living with Frank would have provided a great opportunity and possibility to Eveline including new life experiences. Frank is the only person who can give her love and happiness (Ingersoll 501). This is because she felt something special hanging out with him. As Eveline feels, “He took her, and she felt elated as she sat in an unaccustomed part of the theater with him (Joyce 73). This indicates that Frank is able to give her new experiences in life, unlike her father.  She also thinks, “In her new home, in a distant unknown country, she would be married. He provides her with love. Frank would take her in his arms, fold her in his arms. He would save her” (Joyce 72).  This also indicates that she had confidence that if she left home with Frank, her life would be better off thus she made the unwise decision to stay with her father.

There is however, another whole new story when it comes to dealing with the promise she has made to her mother as she passed away. Taking care of her siblings was a responsibility she took so seriously. This however was also a part of a wrong decision as it is a mistake to hold on to a past promise especially when the person has already rested in death. It is the responsibility of her father to take care of the children ; perhaps if she did leave with Frank, her father might realize that he has a responsibility he has to take seriously and probably change his attitude and improve his personal being in later years as he recovers from depression as well.

In conclusion, it is evident from this paper that the story, Eveline”, is incomprehensible for many individuals in the society. This is because it clearly indicates why Eveline decided to stay with her family despite the sufferings and pain she encounters. However, I believed that leaving home and staying with Franck would have given her great opportunities and more happiness in life than staying with her abusive father. Therefore, she made the unwise and wrong decision to stay with her father. In that sense, people should listen to their inner voice and feelings before making tough decisions. Decisions making process should not be based on past moments or situations. People should make wise decisions despite their financial conditions in the society.

Careful analysis is also very imperative towards making a wise and right decision in life.  Intuitions are mainly impressions and insights but are useful in making tough decisions.  The decision made by Eveline was a bad and hasty decision since it made her unhappy in life. The promise of the past has kept her away from realizing the real worth of what future has in store for her in the hands of Frank, the one who truly loves and values her.

Works Cited

Hsee, Christopher K., et al. “Lay Rationalism: Individual Differences In Using Reason Versus Feelings To Guide Decisions.” Journal of Marketing Research (JMR) 52.1 (2015): 134-146.

Joyce, James. Eveline. (1914): 11-75

Ingersoll, Earl G. “The Stigma of Femininity in James Joyce’s `Eveline’ and `The Boarding House’.” Studies in Short Fiction 30.4 (1993): 501.

Murphy, Terence Patrick. “Interpreting Marked Order Narration: The Case of James Joyce’s “Eveline”.” Journal of Literary Semantics 34.2 (2005): 107-124.

Zennure, Köseman. “Spiritual Paralysis and Epiphany: James Joyce’s “Eveline” and “The Boarding House.” University Of Gaziantep Journal of Social Sciences 11.2 (2012): 587-600.