Custom essays on “Eveline” by Wendy Dennison

The short story “Eveline” by Wendy Dennison is one of the most noteworthy works written by the author because the short story reveals the psychological, internal struggle of the main character and the impact of the childhood psychological problems on the development of individuals in the adulthood. In such a context, claims that Eveline acted within the framework defined by her social environment and her time is not absolutely irrelevant but, to understand her actions, it is necessary to look deeper into her past, especially her childhood, to understand the psychological problems she had and motives of her actions.
At first glance, Eveline is an ordinary girl, who is raised up in the Catholic environment. In fact, her Сatholic background affects consistently her behavior. However, supporters of the overwhelming impact of the Catholiс environment on Eveline are not absolutely correct because her Catholic education and Catholic influences were significant but they could not define personal traits of character and psychological problems she has developed. What is meant here is the fact that, in order to understand actions and ideas of Eveline, it is necessary to look back into her past, namely into her childhood because it is through the psychological analysis of the main character and understanding of her past, it is possible to understand her present and her traits of character, which define her actions and thoughts.
In this respect, it is worth mentioning the fact that Eveline had substantial difficulties in her childhood because her parents failed to raise her up being prepared for the life in the community different from Catholic one. In fact, it was her parents, who imposed constantly on Eveline Catholic values and norms (Dennison, 175). From the early childhood she has learned that she was destined to be a good Catholic but it is not actually the impact of Catholic community but the impact of her parents above all that defined her views and beliefs and, therefore, her actions. Her parents have defined her personality since the early childhood.
Therefore, the claim that Eveline was vulnerable to the impact of her Catholic community is not absolutely relevant because this impact was overshadowed by the impact of her parents above all. In such a context, the personality of Eveline was shaped under the impact of her parents (Dennison, 177). It is her parents’ views that dominated over personal, independent views of Eveline. As a result, when she grew up, she has proved to be unable to behave independently of the ideological framework, she was raised up by her parents.
Finally, it is impossible to explain the actions of Eveline by the impact of her Catholic environment solely (McMahan, Day, Funk, Coleman, 291). In fact, it is obvious that each individual has a free will. This means that Eveline can take decisions on her own, regardless of the impact of her community or public opinion. She could have challenged Catholic norms, if she dared. In addition, she had the right to behave and think as she liked as long as her actions and thoughts did not violate basic rights of other individuals and it was up to Eveline to choose the mode of behavior.
Thus, Eveline lived in Catholic community but it is mainly her parents that made her truly Catholic, but not her community. In addition, Eveline had a free will and, therefore, she could act as she liked.

Works Cited
Dennison, W. “Eveline.” In Selected Works. New York: Random House, 2010.
McMahan, Day, Funk, Coleman. Literature and the Writing Process, Ninth Edition. New York: Routledge, 2009.