September 20

The loneliness of the immigrant experience

At the beginning of the book, Eilis did not want to go the United States and leave everything she knows so well behind so she could start a new life. At that point the only thing she had known was Ireland and the traditions and customs that applied to her town/area. Albeit she has probably visited places around the U.K., she had not been anywhere across the ocean, and this is evident because of the way she did not know about the sickness she would endure on the ship if she ate as much food as she did. “She was nobody here. It was not just that she had no friends and family; it was rather that she was a ghost in this room, in the streets on the way to work, on the shop floor. Nothing meant anything.” This quote is a great example of how she thought of herself after she got to America and she felt alone and that her being there had no value to those around her, and how everything around her meant very little as well. Another great example is “I wish that I could stop feeling that I want to be an Irish girl in Ireland.” which very clearly projects the homesickness she feels at the start of her time in the U.S. She felt out of place and like she didn’t belong, and this idea is quite prominent throughout the book. Throughout various stages of the book she would  feel like she was not in the right place. After she started dating Tony, however, she felt like she had more of a connection to the people, and this helped her settle in.

September 20

Eilis’ Guilt

Brooklyn is a coming of age story for a young Irish girl named Eilis. At the time, especially for younger generations growing up in rural areas, the prospect of shifting to a far away, foreign land could be too much to accept. When Eilis is offered the opportunity to move to America and begin life anew, with a stable work and income, it isn’t just the thought of leaving abroad for a place that she may never return from – or truly feel at home at – that disturbs her: she feels an ample amount of guilt for leaving her mother, and sister, Rose, behind.

In part 1 of the story, when she is preparing to leave and Rose is helping her to pack her belongings, Eilis feels a strong guilt toward the position that she is in when thinking of her sister. She believes that Rose would have been more capable of living to her full potential in America; essentially living up to the “American Dream”, and that the opportunities that Rose had turned down were for Eilis to live a better life. She feels guilty, as if she is somehow taking a future of opportunities from Rose, and depriving her of what she is really capable of. We learn this is somewhat true in part 1 of the story, that Rose prefers a simple life with her family and golf rather than living up to her true potential. We learn that Rose is somewhat selfless, and wants her sister to have these opportunities instead.

“It occurred to her also, as she tried on some earrings, that Rose knew all this too, knew that either she or Eilis would have to leave, and had decided to let Eilis go.” (Page 32)

Eilis is and has always been thankful toward Rose – she looks up to her as a role model. However, knowing that Rose has sacrificed a potentially rich future for Eilis impacts her self-esteem greatly, to the point where she is wishing that she would not have to leave, and go through with the guilt, that Rose could take her place instead.

Eilis’ guilt is also directed toward leaving her already dissipating family behind. We know from part 1 of the book that her brothers are all off working in the U.K, her father having passed away before the beginning of the story. Eilis is very reluctant to leave her fragile mother behind, as she is characterised as close to her family members, showing a softer side to the people she loves. This guilt originates from having to leave the responsibility of taking care of her aging mother, and their home, and somewhat forcing it upon Rose. Furthermore, when the tragic news arrives from her home in Ireland, Eilis feels even more guilty for not staying to take care of her family, instead of seeking fortune and a new life in a foreign land.

 

Image result for brooklyn colm toibin

 

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT
September 20

The loneliness of the immigrant experience- Eilis’ initial experience

We experienced many different things as we grow up. It is not the absolute thing that we have to face it in these days but many people come out from the familiar environments where they used to live and experience new things in new places through that we can experience , inspire and learn the new technologies, cultures, and traditions from the other people also we can improve our growth of inner side too. Moving out from the familiar environments aren’t very easy it takes a lot of time to adapt the new environment. It would be scary and nervous experiences but after be comfortable where we are it would be fun and enjoyable experiences.

In 1950, where Eilis lived in Ireland wasn’t good for the young people to explore their dreams because there are not many things people can inspire, share, and learn from each other’s. Eilis also knew where she lived in Ireland would be really hard to plan and explore what she wants and wants to be in the future so she decided to move to the United States with full of love from her family and her dream. Wherever we go, unfamiliar environments or places give us nervous and tension. There was no exception to Eilis.  She headed to the United States with nervous feeling.  It was her first time to ride the ship for long time so she didn’t know what she have to do or not so she had many difficulties in the ship while heading to the United States such as seasick.

Through hard times in the ship she eventually made it. Brooklyn’s life wasn’t let Eilis be in the comfortable situation. Eilis experienced totally different things in the United States. Eilis’s roommates were kept on eyes on her so she had uncomfortable dinner most of the days. She had low confidence of herself when she just got to the United States because she didn’t know anyone and wonder she can do well in the United States so it was hard to enjoy her work. On the new country it’s not quite easy to give up the house and job on free will. Eilis had to earn money for maintenance of livelihood and she needed the house where she can rest, eat and sleep that’s why her heart was set on just do what she have to do and adapt the new surrounding even though she felt lonely, hard and nervous of most of the things.

 

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT