Eveline is yet another story about the paralysis of James Joyce's Dubliners. It is the story of a difficult childhood and an adolescence full of anguish. The family bonds in Eveline are almost like chains and the protagonist is mentally and physically burdened by her parents. Her life is full of responsibilities and duties, but when she is offered freedom from this life, she does not dare take the chance. She's too scared. The story is set in Dublin, presumably in the early 20th century (Dubliners was published in 1914). Eveline, the protagonist, sits by a window in a dark room for most of the story, with the final scene being the only action taking place outside of that room. The start and end duration is only a few hours. The story begins with Eveline sitting at a window, looking out at the avenue. Years ago there was a field there in which she and the other children, except her brother Ernest "who was too big to play", played every evening, but now there was no more than houses. Life seemed better then, but now Eveline and her brothers are all grown up and her mother is dead. Eveline is considering leaving Ireland, as most of her childhood friends have done. Still, she doesn't know if it's wise to leave her home. Eveline works extremely hard in a store and also at home, where she takes care of her elderly father. Neither his work nor his colleagues will miss him. 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 absent (Ernest has died and Harry is often away decorating churches), there is no one to protect her. Eveline is now nineteen and there are two younger children, probably siblings although the story is unclear on this, and she gives all her salary to the family, but she is still accused of being 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 with great tenderness and tells her stories from distant countries, but Eveline's father despises Frank, because "he knows these sailors", and this forces him to secretly meet his lover..