Week 2 Eng 102 "Eveline"

After reading the short story "Eveline" the reader is left with a few burning questions, one being the validity of Eveline's lover Frank. Was Frank who he appeared to be? Did he really love Eveline, or was he just looking for a quick romance , a sailor's love affair to be forgotten after leaving port?

After evaluating the clues, this reader came to the conclusion that Frank did want Eveline to come with him to Buenos Aires, and his offer was sincere. The author used names and places in a well-thought-out symbolic way. The name Frank for example, according to the encyclopedia means free in giving; generous ,open, and honest in expressing what one thinks or feels; straightforward, candid, and free from reserve. The author described Frank as "very kind, manly and open-hearted".

Buenos Aires is another example of symbolism. The name literally means "Good Air". Eveline lived in a very dusty place. She was continually having to dust to try and keep the house clean in the dirty lanes of Ireland. The air had a fowl smell of dusty cretonne. She certainly deserved to get away to somewhere with clean air, "good air".

But what were Franks plans once they arrived in Argentina? Perhaps he had plans to work with the railroad or a construction site. There had been a construction boom from 1930-1980 and small towns were popping up everywhere. The railroads were booming with supplies being brought in for all the factories and the economy was growing. It seemed like a great place to start a family.

It is this readers' conclusion, based on the clues in the story, that Frank fully intended to take care of Eveline. He walked her home in the evenings, sang to her and took her to the movies. He spent time with her and he gave her no reason to disbelieve his intentions. In the end it was her fear, not his, that kept her from leaving Ireland to be his wife. She was afraid of change, and of exchanging the familiar for the unknown. She looked at Frank, but not with love, perhaps with scepticism, since she had maybe never really felt loved. Maybe she wasn't capable of loving. Perhaps she had gotten caught up in the thought of escape, but the reality proved to be too overwhelming, too scary, and too risky. Yes, Frank had kept his promise and had a ticket for her to board the boat with him; it was she who could not leave.