Long Island

How do the Pressures of Living in a Small Community influence the characters in Long Island, and why is gossip such a powerful force in the novel?

Eilis must contend with two mother figures in Long Island. Compare and contrast Francesca and Mrs. Lacey, explaining how both impact Eilis’s decision-making when it comes to life with Tony.

What significance does Nancy’s engagement ring have for her as a character and how does it mark a major shift in her character at the end of Long Island?

All three of the point of view characters in Long Island struggle with the concept of loneliness. How does Loneliness as a Motivating Factor influence the decisions Eilis, Jim, and Nancy make throughout the novel? Do any truly escape their loneliness?

How does the motif of photos help characterize Mrs. Lacey, and why does she act so differently when her grandchildren arrive?

Jim’s indecision is his greatest flaw in Long Island. Why does Jim struggle to definitively choose a life with Eilis over Nancy, and how does Nancy use his indecisiveness against him?

One of Long Island’s most important themes is The Tension Between Desire and Duty. How does Eilis try to strike a balance between the two, and what role does her family play in helping her find that balance?

Eilis often feels like an outsider while with the Fiorello family. How does Eilis find a sense of family when she returns to Ireland, and how does her family support her compared to Tony’s family?