This moment reminds me of the movie, ‘Gangs of New York’ where the African Americans and Irish immigrants were treated horribly. And I feel that Toibin might have been trying to capture this in his novel. And since in Ireland it is not as diverse as America, it shows that racism is taught to us and is not an actual trait of a person. While Eilis’s staring at the customers can be deceived as racism, it is her actually just being unaware, since Ireland is mostly just white Irishmen.

Eilis leaving Ireland, for the second time, is a bitter sweet moment for her. Her return back to Ireland really opened her eyes to her life in Brooklyn. Even though she was torn about her feelings with Tony, she knew that she would have a better chance at life in America. Seeing how everyone is still either in the same place as before she left or not progressing to anything bigger, Eilis knew she had to go back. As Sara mentions, Jim doesn’t really love Eilis just like Rose’s job doesn’t really want her, they just want the Irish girl who has turned American.

I feel that Eilis coming to America was good for her. It allowed to grow up and find her voice. In Brooklyn, Eilis was her own person. She did not have to stay in her sister’s shadow. She was able to figure out what she wants to do with her life and how she can accomplish this. She even noticed that most people who stood in Ireland haven’t even changed that much compared to her. Maybe it’s because she had to adapt to her new surroundings. It is because of her new persona that I think people took an interest in her. She had an ‘American girl vibe’ happening, which people were fascinated by.

Growing up in a Catholic household, Eilis was taught that marriage is the holiest of matrimony. So for her to marry an American man behind her mother’s back had to be hard decisions to make. Especially after she tells her mother and can tell that her mother is disappointed in her decision. While Patricio’s sees her mother as being accepted, I feel that she still harbors disappointment towards her daughter, ‘You didn’t have to marry him? You weren’t in trouble? her mother said?’, I feel that mother feels that Eilis has turned her back on their beliefs. Even if it means she has a new chance on life.

During this part of the book, I could feel the homesickness the Eilis was feeling during her time away from home. Eilis has been in America for a bit now but still she feels the ache to see her family and be able to confined in them. At this point, Eilis truly feels alone. She is an outsider trying to fit into a society that turns their nose at her. Which really shows the emotional toll that it took on immigrants.

Here you go. Enjoy :) Not sure if correct. LMK!

(https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pJ9E9TaYeK5cjEfwU33bkwNNbd5TOZJNZt1MSnQasoo/edit)