Posted: August 2nd, 2022

Mature in The Whirlwind

You are expected to take a considerable initiative in this essay and develop a thesis that is of particular interest to you as a student of modern literary culture.Tryto
develop an argument that is consistent and well documented. You must use at least two secondary sources (i.eacademic essays)in your paper and include them with your primary sources in a Works Cited list at the end. Cite all sources according to MLA,Help write my thesis – APA or Chicago Manual of Style,as long as you are consistent. lf you use MLA style,be sure to provide in-text documentation for any quotation, paraphrase or reference to these sources in your paper.

Matures in the Whirlwind: “Brooklyn” of Colm Tóibín
Abstract:n
This research paper focuses on understanding why maturity can be reached through challenging or even disturbing times in life through the eyes of Eilis, the main character of the novel. the present work provides examples of how seemingly adverse situations sharp and force people to grow mentally. It also seeks to highlight the importance of keeping faithful in down times.

要求：
1. topic：“Brooklyn” of Colm Tóibín
2. Format：5 pages, double-spaced, standard margin (1-inch) and type size (12-pt font size)
3. content：develop a thesis that is of particular interest to you as a student of model literary culture; try to develop an argument that is consistent and well documented
4. citation：at least 2 secondary sources and include them with your primary sources in a “works cited” list (好像是prefer MLA style)

Mature in The Whirlwind
Colm Toibin’s Brooklyn explores themes of personal growth and independence through the character Eilis, a young and naive Irish immigrant to the US. Through out the novel, the reader sees Eilis change in character through her relationships, the losses she endures and the experiences that impact her; ultimately presenting her as a mature individual a contrast from her inexperience and naive persona in the beginning. As her character is forced to endure drastic periods of social change, she is forced by those around her to grow, and in turn becomes in control of her life slowly losing her passivity to become actively involved in her own decision-making, essentially becoming mature.
In the beginning of the novel, the reader is introduced to a young Eilis in the stage of complacency. Here she is in her conform zone, that appears to be collapsing around her, and unsustainable for her. There are no jobs that are sustainable or effective to sustain a good life, and the situation is worrying as it exudes a gloomy future for Eilis, who is just starting out in life. She is not in control of her life, as she generally responds to leading voices and influential forces, external of her will, most of which are within her social value system, as such presented to be serving her best interest. This is seen from the start where she is compelled to take a job she did not really want. While she is reluctant to take the job, she is qualified and has no choice in the matter due to her economic circumstances. As much as the job will not be of any satisfaction to her, she does not have a choice in refusing the job. The narrator outlines that the job at Miss Kelly’s “was better than nothing and at the moment she had nothing” (Toibin, 5). Her obedience shows a general sense of naivety and lack of maturity or inexperience in speaking for herself. She is passive in making decisions around her life, and the passivity in her character is further explored in her next chapter in life, as she is organized for a passage to America.
The move to America is a big decision for her, considering that she is leaving her family, friends and hometown to a new foreign land she is not familiar with. For anyone, a move to a foreign land with the probability that you may never get to see your family for years should be a daunting task. Her lack of formidable protest whatsoever to her sister’s decision making further reinforces Eilis as a passive observer/ character in her own story. Toibin outlines that “it had somehow been tacitly arranged that Eilis would move to America” (22). On top of this compulsion to move, Rose dictates on her clothing style and urges her to change her mannerism generally presenting a situation where Eilis does not have control of her life, and intentionally lets others make decisions for her. Her blind trust is naive. Eilis’ personal identity is further stifled. There is a general sense that she is conflicted between making a firm choice by taking action or just passively agreeing to Rose Lacey’s decision. Young outlines that “ Eilis a puzzling and unsympathetic character…can be seen to passively accede to events, rather than to act” (129). She slowly becomes a character and not a protagonist to many intentionally so as to reinforce her inexperience towards life. At this point, Eilis fails to oppose and generally agrees with her making a life changing decision based on others demands and not her own showing she is immature.
Her experiences in shifting to America becomes a key focal point that starts compelling her to actively participate in her life rather than just watching others make the decisions for her. Her passage to America is harrowing to her, but a key moment defines her point of change, and a need for her to control her life. In the boat, she falls sea sick, and in this moment the narrator outlines that she lacks control of her body and wishes she was outside the boat, pushing against the waves (Toibin). Here a desire to establish control of her life starts to emerge but it full manifests when she meets Georgina, who also takes over her decision making relegating her to a passive role, albeit for a short time. Georgina outlines to her that she was once where she is, and is now experienced and mature. While she is contemplating about her choices, she becomes self-aware about her role as a passive character. The narrator outlines Eilis thoughts where she emphasizes on her passivity stating that “Georgina, …would know what to do, as would Rose or her mother, or indeed Miss Kelly…But she had no idea what to do” (Toibin, 39). Her desire to become in control surfaces and her copying Rose’s and Georgina’s style and clothing becomes a clear foreshadow of her development to become more mature in her role.
In America she succumbs to homesickness, and while she gets opportunities to book keeping and accountancy (which in a way still shows she mirrors Rose); the impact of the cross and leaving her home behind, become key in propagating her need to become a more active participant in her life. She is still reluctant to totally change, but active participation is seen when she refuses Tony’s advance and pleas for marriage despite being infatuated by him, aware that Tony was moving too fast. Her experiences in Brooklyn are particularly hard since she does not have her family members with her and she is unaware of the local culture. She is also compelled to meet certain expectations and keep secrets which increases her motive to participate actively in her life. For example, this can be seen in her encounter with Dolores in the stairs, where Dolores is described to be wearing a cheap jacket like a man and a bad blouse, garish red lipstick that made her resemble a horse-dealers wife in Enniscorthy. This alludes to the fact that Dolores was up to mischief, which was against dorm policy, and all girls were required to uphold a code of conduct. Eilis shows great courage, as she holds back herself from revealing Dolores to Miss MacAdams, despite her vow to obeisance to Miss MacAdams. Implying she has come of age. Her experiences and new found friends, all of which constantly challenge her to do better, work to compel her to be in control of her life, and not always be defined by others demands (Inan). While Dolores actions are contrary to the house requirement, her ability to overcome telling her out shows a step in the right direction.
Her relationship with Tony, allows Eilis to be come more assertive and demand her own piece. It allows her to overcome her homesickness a factor that was holding her back and encourage elements of passiveness in her attitude. By going out more with Tony and interacting with her roommates most of whom had some degree of control and freedom in their lives, Eilis becomes more like them, and starts to show signs of decisiveness and control in her life. When Tony tries to kiss Eilis, she shows assertiveness and verbally demands him to respect her space telling him “Don’t push me” (Toibin, 136). Insisting for Tony to stop. He also shows personal growth when Father Flood outlines whether he need Miss Kahoe to escort her, instead saying that she can do it all on her own as she has already become accustomed.
Eilis maturity is largely shaped by her experiences that remove her from her comfort zone and compel her to stand by herself. This allows her to be more assertive, decisive and more importantly authoritative of her needs. Complacency into a social value system promotes feelings of stability, safety and security and more importantly social acceptance within your immediate surrounding. But in mosts cases, scarcity in resources, limited social, economic, cultural and political opportunities for growth push people beyond their comfort zone and may serve to bring immense change to their lives. For many, moving from the point of complacency to an uncertain, and a changed environment poses a risk to their wellbeing, as it literally changes their base of support thrusting them to an unfamiliar territory where they strive not to become a victim but succeed. This is more impactful for people who are in a period of transition in their life, from one developmental stage to another, as they are inexperienced of how the future will unfold and they are still not fully self-aware of themselves. They have no choice but to quickly adopt in order to fit in or lose out in an opportunity that is likely to define their life.

Works Cited
İnan, Dilek. “„Brooklyn“ Колма Тојбина: Између Домовине И Егзила”. Филолог – Часопис За Језик, Књижевност И Културу, vol 0, no. 5, 2012. National And University Library Of The Republic Of Srpska, https://doi.org/10.7251/fil1205096i. Accessed 30 Nov 2021.
Tóibín, Colm. Brooklyn. 2009.
Young, Tory. “Brooklyn As The “Untold Story” Of “Eveline”: Reading Joyce And Tóibín With Ricoeur”. Journal Of Modern Literature, vol 37, no. 2, 2014, p. 123. Indiana University Press, https://doi.org/10.2979/jmodelite.37.2.123. Accessed 30 Nov 2021.

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Tags: Mature in The Whirlwind, Religion & Theology