Jessica’s answer to “Based on the last paragraph of the novel, do you think Eilis happily returned to Tony and she reali…” > Likes and Comments
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i agree. She certainly wasn't over the moon when she got engaged and then married. What would have happened if Miss Kelly hadn't talked to her?
I agree; Eilis doesn't love Jim, and she doesn't feel at home in either place anymore.
I agree. I think Eilis wanted to love Jim, she was just kind of forcing herself, beacause it would mean she could have a different life at home. because home is home..I´d love to believe that she loved Tony. Am I the only who is horrified by the fact that she cheated on him? I mean she kissed Jim, and I consider that cheating...do you think she´d ever tell Tony what had happened in Ireland?
I think that she was so young and didn't really know her own mind, so I agree. She lets herself be swayed by what seems agreeable and socially correct. She also has some guilt about leaving her mother alone, but when she sees her mother's coldness towards her, that makes it easier to assuage her guilt. She is being used by her to take the place of her sister.
Staying with Jim was an opportunity to stay in Ireland. That old biddy from the shop reminded her of the reasons she did not like Ireland in the first place. She loves Tony. She didn't return just to honor the sanctity of marriage (she did kiss another man after all). One tragedy of it all was how all these opportunities in Ireland came when it was largely too late such as the wealthy boyfriend and steady job.
She just went with the flow and let life dictate her actions. Jimmy decided they should get married and she went along with it. Rose decided she was going to Brooklyn so she went. When Eilis discovered someone knew her secret she returned to her husband instead if staying in Ireland with her mom. It was the expedient choice and whether or not it was the best choice was irrelevant.
Autumn, I agree with you completely about Eilis’ feelings for Jim being neither strong nor real.
I agree completely that she never really loved Jim, but rather loved the idea of him and the life he could afford her in Ireland. She never had any interest in him nor him in her before she went to Brooklyn, and I think they were only finding space for each other in their lives by the end of the book because it was convenient for them to end up together. Jim had never found a girl to marry him and Eilis wanted to stay in Ireland to be with her old friends and take care of her lonely mother. I'm optimistic that over time Eilis fell back in love with Tony and they built a life and family together that they both loved, but it was frustrating to finish the book without Eilis ever having to make a real, hard decision for herself rather than doing whatever everyone around her told her to do. I think Ms. Kelly made the decision to go back to America for her with her revelation.
Thank you for your comments. I just finished reading it and I felt really cheated with so many loose ends, but your reading of it has helped. The idea that she's choosing life in the city as opposed to her home town where she'd be the subject of gossip makes her decision so much more understandable and acceptable. Ending still disappointing though.
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Connie
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May 04, 2016 08:36PM
i agree. She certainly wasn't over the moon when she got engaged and then married. What would have happened if Miss Kelly hadn't talked to her?
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I agree; Eilis doesn't love Jim, and she doesn't feel at home in either place anymore.
I agree. I think Eilis wanted to love Jim, she was just kind of forcing herself, beacause it would mean she could have a different life at home. because home is home..I´d love to believe that she loved Tony. Am I the only who is horrified by the fact that she cheated on him? I mean she kissed Jim, and I consider that cheating...do you think she´d ever tell Tony what had happened in Ireland?
I think that she was so young and didn't really know her own mind, so I agree. She lets herself be swayed by what seems agreeable and socially correct. She also has some guilt about leaving her mother alone, but when she sees her mother's coldness towards her, that makes it easier to assuage her guilt. She is being used by her to take the place of her sister.
Masterfully explained and just SO intelligent!
Staying with Jim was an opportunity to stay in Ireland. That old biddy from the shop reminded her of the reasons she did not like Ireland in the first place. She loves Tony. She didn't return just to honor the sanctity of marriage (she did kiss another man after all). One tragedy of it all was how all these opportunities in Ireland came when it was largely too late such as the wealthy boyfriend and steady job.
She just went with the flow and let life dictate her actions. Jimmy decided they should get married and she went along with it. Rose decided she was going to Brooklyn so she went. When Eilis discovered someone knew her secret she returned to her husband instead if staying in Ireland with her mom. It was the expedient choice and whether or not it was the best choice was irrelevant.
Autumn, I agree with you completely about Eilis’ feelings for Jim being neither strong nor real.
I agree completely that she never really loved Jim, but rather loved the idea of him and the life he could afford her in Ireland. She never had any interest in him nor him in her before she went to Brooklyn, and I think they were only finding space for each other in their lives by the end of the book because it was convenient for them to end up together. Jim had never found a girl to marry him and Eilis wanted to stay in Ireland to be with her old friends and take care of her lonely mother. I'm optimistic that over time Eilis fell back in love with Tony and they built a life and family together that they both loved, but it was frustrating to finish the book without Eilis ever having to make a real, hard decision for herself rather than doing whatever everyone around her told her to do. I think Ms. Kelly made the decision to go back to America for her with her revelation.
Thank you for your comments. I just finished reading it and I felt really cheated with so many loose ends, but your reading of it has helped. The idea that she's choosing life in the city as opposed to her home town where she'd be the subject of gossip makes her decision so much more understandable and acceptable. Ending still disappointing though.
