“It had somehow been tacitly arranged that Eilis would go to America”. Within Colm Toibin’s novel Brooklyn, the protagonist Eilis Lacey, is depicted as a conservative and passive Irish girl, one who lives within the social expectations of 1950’s America and Ireland. Eilis is used as a medium by Toibin to highlight how those who reside in both Enniscorthy and Brooklyn attempt to control her. Additionally, Toibin portrays Eilis’ life to be controlled by society and the expectations enforced upon her. However, Toibin ultimately presents Eilis as someone who is not easily controlled by depicting Eilis’ inner monologue, which sways readers to believe how Eilis can be a strategic thinker. The ways in which Toibin presents Brooklyn is ultimately
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The migration journey that supports Brooklyn plays a critical role in Eilis’ transformation. The original passive and timid girl that is introduced within part one, contrasts heavily against her in Brooklyn. For someone who was so heavily engrossed within how she should act and what others expect of her, Eilis is able to manipulate those who want to control her. The relationship with Tony showed Eilis completely steering the relationship with constant thoughts of “if I do this...” or “if I show him this…” readers may be able to see Eilis being the dominant one within said relationship. Additionally, Eilis shows moments of strength where she finds courage to aggressively speak her mind, “Eilis suddenly felt brave”. The Way Toibin expresses it clearly depicts to readers how far she has transformed Nonetheless. With this newfound courage, Eilis brings it back to Enniscorthy that justified the different perceptions of her as “she has changed”. The confident and strategic side of Eilis is often portrayed when she is dealing with guys, “I was ready for this” as Jim Pharrell asks imposing questions. The way Toibin describes her actions also changes drastically from words such as “paces” to “trots” to highlight the positive, confident and carefree Eilis, one that is not controlled by society or
The migration journey that supports Brooklyn plays a critical role in Eilis’ transformation. The original passive and timid girl that is introduced within part one, contrasts heavily against her in Brooklyn. For someone who was so heavily engrossed within how she should act and what others expect of her, Eilis is able to manipulate those who want to control her. The relationship with Tony showed Eilis completely steering the relationship with constant thoughts of “if I do this...” or “if I show him this…” readers may be able to see Eilis being the dominant one within said relationship. Additionally, Eilis shows moments of strength where she finds courage to aggressively speak her mind, “Eilis suddenly felt brave”. The Way Toibin expresses it clearly depicts to readers how far she has transformed Nonetheless. With this newfound courage, Eilis brings it back to Enniscorthy that justified the different perceptions of her as “she has changed”. The confident and strategic side of Eilis is often portrayed when she is dealing with guys, “I was ready for this” as Jim Pharrell asks imposing questions. The way Toibin describes her actions also changes drastically from words such as “paces” to “trots” to highlight the positive, confident and carefree Eilis, one that is not controlled by society or