Cultural Values In Eveline

Critical Theory: Cultural

When it comes to decision-making, we tend to choose based on what we have learned or been taught surrounding our culture. Culture plays a significant role in how we make our choices. Professor Donnel Briley of the Research Frontier concluded, “People with different cultural backgrounds have different expectations, norms and values, which in turn have the potential to influence their judgments and decisions as well as their subsequent behaviour.” (Briley) In two specific short stories, we find two women trapped inside these cultural “expectations, norms and values” that force them to make an abrupt and rash decision. Eveline Hill, from James Joyce short story “Eveline,” is a tormented young woman who is left behind to raise her younger siblings along side her father in her monotonous small town of Dublin. When given the chance to change her fate, she is left in a suspenseful moment faced her fiancée and confronted with a major decision to escape her responsibilities. Mathilde Loisel, from Guy de Maupassant’s story “The Necklace,” is confined within the limits of society’s expectations from women of her time. She is confronted and conflicted by the awareness of her current financial estate and when given the opportunity to appear of more worth by accessorizing herself in that manner, she makes a huge decision that will affect her and her husband’s life forever. Although culture can be represented by ethnic backgrounds, or world origins, this paper will utilize the culture of women with an approach to the significance of cultural backgrounds effecting decision-making. Culture will effect major decisions because, culture is often inherited and not learned; second, inherited culture is often expected; and l...

... middle of paper ...

...expectations of the society in that day it made her depressed and full of regret about her life. She compared herself to other women to try and measure up to their worth by her appearance. As she is preparing to attend an event, she stresses over her attire and worries about her accessories; she spends her husbands savings and borrows a tempting beautiful necklace from Madame Forestier. With this action, Madame Loisel acts out an expectation from the society. She chooses to please others as she dresses up for longing to be accepted by those she deems wealthy. She succeeded in being noticed as, “all the men stared at her, inquired her name, and asked to be introduced to her. The Minister noticed her.” (Joyce) In the end, both Eveline and Mathilde have led lives that showcase this point of high expectations from culture.

END SECOND DRAFT

WORKS CITED TO FOLLOW