Eveline: Why didn't she get on the boat?

Eveline
James Joyce

When reading this short story, the question arises: Why didn't Eveline get on the boat? Most of the beginning of the story depicted an unhappy life with her father. "She sometimes felt herself in danger of her father's violence" (Joyce). Eveline's father was abusive and controlling. In contrast to this unhappiness, scenes where Frank was described appeared to be hopeful and joyous. "...and she felt elated as she sat in an unaccustomed part of the theater with him" (Joyce). Eveline's relationship with Frank offered an escape from her unhappy life. Despite her ability to leave, Eveline could not make herself board the boat. Perhaps Eveline could not leave because of her promise to her late mother. "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" (Joyce). Although Eveline wanted to escape her threatening father, she felt compelled to take care of her home. Her life was familiar to her, and although it was not perfectly happy, she found it not "wholly undesirable" (Joyce). Eveline's choice not to board the boat expresses the theme of spiritual paralysis. Eveline wanted to be happy, but her fear of change prevented her from moving on with her life. Not boarding the boat suggests that she would return to her home and her father. This is all she has known, and she chose familiarity over probable happiness.