Characterization of Eveline

Outer characterization

Eveline is the main character of the short story “Eveline” by James Joyce. She is “over nineteen” and lives with her abusive father after her mother’s death. Eveline has a brother, Harry, who is “in the church decorating business”. She also had a brother Ernest, who died. 

At the time of the narrative, Eveline is a shop worker and dislikes her job: “She would not cry many tears at leaving the Stores”. She also has “to see that the two young children who had been left to her charge went to school regularly and got their meals regularly”. This might be a reference to Eveline’s younger siblings – who are not mentioned by name. Eveline is in a relationship with Frank, a sailor who plans to marry her and take her to Buenos Aires with him. 

Inner characterization

Eveline is a passive character...