Letting Go of the Past

Eveline by James Joyce was a relaxing contrast from the short stories we normally read in AP Lit.  It was relatively short, and not extremely descriptive or complex.  Thanks to its simplicity, I think I was able to realize the theme of the story.  Throughout the story, Eveline's life is explained to the reader.  Her mother and  one of her brothers had died.  She has a father who abused her mother and now takes his anger out on her.  She is not a happy person.  Due to all of the problems in Eveline's life, I expected her to try to find some escape.  Eveline somewhat confirms that she is looking for a solution in paragraph 9.  "But in her new home, in a distant unknown country, it would not be like that.  Then she would be married - she, Eveline (par. 9)."  The story goes on to talk about her boyfriend Frank, a sailor, who promises to take her to Buenos Aires with him.  I expected this to be hear means of escape.  However, at the end of the novel, she cannot leave.  She is reminded of her home by music she hears playing, and she is afraid of the unknown and a new start with Frank. I think this shows that the theme is about holding onto the past.   Through Frank, Eveline is given a chance to start a new life, but she is reluctant to leave what is familiar to her.  I think the author frowns on this behavior, as he describes Eveline at the end of the story as being unemotional and like a helpless animal. I think the author is trying to say that holding on to one's past does no good, when the future holds a better life.