Joyce
uses stream-of-consciousness to convey 's mental paralysis. By entering into her troubled mind,
we're able to follow her thought processes as she veers back and forth between deciding to
remain with her family in Ireland or heading off to Argentina with her lover, Frank. Right up
until the end of the story she's unable make a firm decision, her mental paralysis neatly
encapsulated by the incredibly powerful pull that her selective memories of the past have upon
her.
But in the end, stream-of-consciousness can only get us so far.
Eveline's not really thinking of anything as she stands there on the quayside, rooted to the
spot while Frank sails off into the distance for a new life on the other side of the world, a
life which Eveline could've had if only she weren't so stuck in the past.
No comments:
Post a Comment