Love Unit

In "Eveline" by James Joyce, the statement, "He would give her life, perhaps love, too. But she wanted to live (221)" foreshadows Eveline leaving Frank. She believes that she needs someone to save her. She stays in the same house with her verbally abusive father. Promising her mother to keep the family together, she felt an obligation to stay with them. Nevertheless, she feels unhappy and needs to move to become happy again.  In the end, Eveline cannot find the courage to leave the place she has known all her life and embark for Argentina. As she looks upon the boat, she realizes that she cannot go to a new, foreign place. She realizes that she does not love him. Also, she wanted to live. She felt smothered by him. Therefore, she stayed behind.