Eveline is yet another story about paralysis from James Joyce's Dubliners. It is a story of a difficult childhood and adolescence full of anguish. Family ties in Eveline are almost like chains and the protagonist is mentally and physically burdened heavily by her parents. Her life is full of responsibilities and duties, but when she is offered a release from this life, she dares not take risks. He's too scared. The story is set in Dublin, presumably at the beginning of the 20th century (Dubliners was published in 1914). Eveline, the protagonist, sits near a window in a dark room for almost the entire story, the final scene being the only action that takes place outside this room. The time interval between the start and the end is a few hours. The story begins with Eveline sitting at the window, looking out at the avenue. Years ago there was a field there where she and the other children, except her brother Ernest "who was too old to play", played every evening, but now there were only houses. Life seemed to be better then, but now Eveline and her siblings are all grown up and her mother has died. Eveline plans to leave Ireland, just like most of her childhood friends did. However, she is not sure if it is wise to leave her home. Eveline works very hard in a shop and also at home, where she takes care of her old father. She won't miss her job or her colleagues. Eveline also has mixed feelings towards her father: he is sometimes cruel and although he has never laid a finger on her, he often threatens her with violence. With her brothers far away (Ernest is dead and Harry is often away on church decorating business) there is no one to protect her. Eveline is now nineteen and has two younger children, presumably brothers, although the story is unclear, and she gives her entire salary to the family, but is still accused of being a spendthrift by her father. Eveline is about to explore another life with a sailor named Frank, who has a house in "Buenos Ayres". Frank always treats her with respect and great tenderness and tells her stories of distant lands, but Eveline's father despises Frank, because "he knows those sailors", and this forces her to meet her lover in secret..