A Woman's Place: Gender Discourse in James Joyce's Eveline

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his." (Oxford 279) This quote by Oscar Wilde encompasses the theme of gender discourse in James Joyce's "Eveline." Eveline is a young woman who longs to escape the drudgery of her life in Dublin. Caring for her siblings and abusive father in a man's world has not completely broken her will as she plans to elope on a voyage to a new life. As the moment of departure nears, however, she is paralyzed by the memory of the promise she made to her dying mother to hold the home together as long as she could. Realizing her duty to her family, Eveline stands immobile as her glorious dreams float away.

Women like Eveline experience similar plights everyday, in every society. Since the beginning of time women have been viewed as the weaker sex, yet in most situations women are the ones that hold the family together. Passivity may be viewed as a weakness, but without women accepting adversity and carrying on their existence, societies and economies would probably crumble. Men, as the more aggressive sex, may stand up and fight, but there is always a woman tending the home and awaiting her warrior's return. In primitive societies women are treated as outcasts, yet are expected to cater to their men, providing food, shelter, and clothing. Women deal with motherhood, careers, discrimination, and relationship issues in their own ways, while men find outlets for their inner conflicts. "Women typically consume less alcohol than men and are less likely to drink daily, to drink continuously, or to engage in binges." (Lex). Consequently, men face less condemnation than women do for alcoholism. "Women experience more social disapproval for alcohol use, and women with alcoholism are more stigmatized." (Lex). On this note, Eveline carries on her sad existence by strength of will, with her dreams as her only means of escape. Her father, however, spends a sizable portion of the family income on alcohol.