Eveline
Encyclopedia
Eveline is a story from Dubliners
by James Joyce
.
". Her mother has died as has her older brother Ernest. Her remaining brother, Harry is on the road "in the church decorating business". She fears that her father will beat her as he used to beat her brothers, and she has little loyalty for her sales job. She has fallen for a sailor named Frank who promises to take her with him to Buenos Aires
(spelt Buenos Ayres). Before leaving to meet Frank, she hears an organ grinder outside, which reminds her of a melody that played on an organ on the day her mother died and the promise she made to her mother to look after the home. At the dock where she and Frank are ready to embark on a ship together, Eveline is deeply conflicted and makes the painful decision not to leave with him. Nonetheless, her face registers no emotion at all.
Like other tales in Dubliners, such as "Araby", "Eveline" features a circular journey, where a character decides to go back to where their journey began, and where the result of their journey is disappointment and reluctance to travel.
.
"Eveline" was heavily drawn upon by horror
writer Clive Barker
for a portion of his collaboration with EA Games, on the critically acclaimed 2001 video game "Clive Barker's Undying
", a Lovecraftian horror-adventure set in 1923 Ireland
. The character of Lizbeth Covenant is largely shaped by Joyce's story. The parallels are many; Lizbeth's mother was named Eveline, who died when Lizbeth was young. Joyce's Eveline lost her brother Ernest, and Lizbeth's siblings Jeremiah, Ambrose, Bethany and Aaron are all deceased. There is much domestic violence in Eveline's and Lizbeth's families. Also, both characters spend a large amount of time looking out their bedroom windows.
Dubliners
Dubliners is a collection of 15 short stories by James Joyce, first published in 1914. They were meant to be a naturalistic depiction of Irish middle class life in and around Dublin in the early years of the 20th century....
by James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
.
The story
A young woman of about nineteen years of age sits by her window, waiting to leave home. She muses on the aspects of her life that are driving her away, while "in her nostrils was the smell of dusty cretonneCretonne
Cretonne, originally a strong, white fabric with a hempen warp and linen weft.The word is sometimes said to be derived from Creton, a village in Normandy where the manufacture of linen was carried on....
". Her mother has died as has her older brother Ernest. Her remaining brother, Harry is on the road "in the church decorating business". She fears that her father will beat her as he used to beat her brothers, and she has little loyalty for her sales job. She has fallen for a sailor named Frank who promises to take her with him to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
(spelt Buenos Ayres). Before leaving to meet Frank, she hears an organ grinder outside, which reminds her of a melody that played on an organ on the day her mother died and the promise she made to her mother to look after the home. At the dock where she and Frank are ready to embark on a ship together, Eveline is deeply conflicted and makes the painful decision not to leave with him. Nonetheless, her face registers no emotion at all.
Like other tales in Dubliners, such as "Araby", "Eveline" features a circular journey, where a character decides to go back to where their journey began, and where the result of their journey is disappointment and reluctance to travel.
Cultural impact
"Eveline" inspired a song by the same name by the band Nickel CreekNickel Creek
Nickel Creek was an American progressive acoustic music trio consisting of Chris Thile , Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins . The band was founded in 1989 and released 6 albums between 1993 and 2006...
.
"Eveline" was heavily drawn upon by horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
writer Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
for a portion of his collaboration with EA Games, on the critically acclaimed 2001 video game "Clive Barker's Undying
Clive Barker's Undying
Clive Barker's Undying is a horror-themed first-person shooter video game based on the Unreal Tournament game engine. It was the last game developed by DreamWorks Interactive before becoming EA Los Angeles, and released in 2001 by Electronic Arts...
", a Lovecraftian horror-adventure set in 1923 Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The character of Lizbeth Covenant is largely shaped by Joyce's story. The parallels are many; Lizbeth's mother was named Eveline, who died when Lizbeth was young. Joyce's Eveline lost her brother Ernest, and Lizbeth's siblings Jeremiah, Ambrose, Bethany and Aaron are all deceased. There is much domestic violence in Eveline's and Lizbeth's families. Also, both characters spend a large amount of time looking out their bedroom windows.