Angie Nielsen answers “Based on the last paragraph of the novel,...”

Sarah asked this question about Brooklyn (Eilis Lacey, #1):

Based on the last paragraph of the novel, do you think Eilis happily returned to Tony and she realized she made the right decision? I am trying to make peace with the ending. "She has gone back to Brooklyn...these words would come to mean less and less to the man who heard them and would come to mean more and more to herself."

Angie Nielsen I loved this book, but the words indicate that while she loved her life in NYC, her decision to marry Tony was one that was rash. She made her peace a…moreI loved this book, but the words indicate that while she loved her life in NYC, her decision to marry Tony was one that was rash. She made her peace as she made her promise is how I looked at it - a common rationale back in the day.

I do think Tony loved her very much (that no one can disagree with), but he also was firmly rooted in having a plan (get married, buy a house, etc. - common for a man back then but different in that he wholly supported her educational and career dreams, which while not common, there were those who were ahead of their time) whereas Eilis was rooted in logic but was a free spirit - and was able to maintain a balance between the two.

It was heartbreaking yet uplifting to read the end of the book. (less)

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