In the short story "Eveline" by James Joyce, Eveline has planned to leave her father's home to marry her fiancé and travel with
him to South America. At the dock, preparing to board the steamer with her fiancé, Eveline is distraught. What is the epiphany that Eveline experiences? "The boat blew a long mournful whistle into the mist. If she went, tomorrow she would be on the sea with Frank, steaming towards Buenos Ayres. Their passage had been booked. Could she still draw back after all he had done for her? Her distress awoke a nausea in her body and she kept moving her lips in silent fervent prayer.
A bell clanged upon her heart. She felt him seize her hand:
“Come!”
All the seas of the world tumbled about her heart. He was drawing her into them: he would drown her. She gripped with both hands at the iron railing.
“Come!”
No! No! No! It was impossible. Her hands clutched the iron in frenzy. Amid the seas she sent a cry of anguish!
“Eveline! Evvy!”
He rushed beyond the barrier and called to her to follow. He was shouted at to go on but he still called to her. She set her white face to him, passive, like a helpless animal. Her eyes gave him no sign of love or farewell or recognition.
Works Cited
Joyce, James. ''Eveline.'' Dubliners. Grant Richards, Ltd., 1914.
A)Her fiancé no longer respects or values her.
B)She cannot give up the certainty of home for the hope her fiancé offers her.
C)She does not have the courage to face her terror of dying at sea.
D)She wants to stay in Ireland and be married.
When the large cat repeats the same words 'Better wait till Martin comes' It creates excitement and curosity in the readers mind that who this Martin is? So, the effect that this repetitive words give to the story is that it pushes the story to it's most exciting part.
