uot; (4). Dust seizes objects after they sit for a long period of time and begin to pile up. In a way Eveline is like an object that has been sitting in that house for so long and the dust is smothering the life out of her. Thus she must escape from what is frequently experience in her known world. Moreover she thinks that "Frank would save her" (6). Thus, towards the end of the story "the seas of the world," that he is "drawing her into" would "drown her" (6). So, like the "dust" the "seas" in the unknown world would also smother her. Consequently either world she chooses will smother her. Therefore dust, as well as the seas symbolize suffocation of her life in the known world and unknown world.
             Joyce also uses characterization to allow the readers to analyze each character's development and significance of that development through their actions. For instance, the readers are able to identify that Eveline as the protagonist in the story because the story is named after her and she is the main character. The readers identify that she is in conflict with herself, which is her confusion over her decision to stay or to go. Her choices are to stay with her father in a home "she had known all her life" or to run off with Frank "to a distant unknown country" leaving all that is familiar to her behind (4). Joyce develops Eveline's father's character and Frank's character completely through what Eveline says about them. For instance, the readers determine from Eveline that her father is violent because "she felt herself in danger of her father's violence" (4). The readers also know that she still loves her father and her life with him. Eveline comes to the realizatio!
             n when she says, "It was hard work-a hard life-but now that she was about to leave it she did not find it a wholly undesirable life" (5). ...