Themes

Duty

One of the main themes explored in the short story “Eveline” by James Joyce is the theme of duty. Eveline struggles to decide which option to choose. On the one hand, she wants to escape the monotony of her life and follow Frank to Buenos Aires. On the other hand, she feels bound by her duty to support the household and take care of her father. 

Although there are several aspects of her life which Eveline dislikes, she chooses duty over her affection towards Frank. First, she recalls that she has a duty to her dying mother, and that she has promised to her to take care of the house: “Strange that it should come that very night to remind her of the promise to her mother, her promise to keep the home together as long as she could”. Then, Eveline remembers that she ha...