Eilis

Eilis Lacey is the main character of the novel “Brooklyn” by Colm Toibin. With red hair and freckles, Eilis is either in her late teens or early twenties, is beautiful and very intelligent. As the youngest member of her family, Eilis is studying bookkeeping in school and hopes to one day have a good job and a good family in her hometown of Enniscorthy. She looks up to and admires her sister, Rose, who has a good job and is well-respected. When Rose and Father Flood arrange for Eilis to immigrate to Brooklyn, Eilis leaps at the chance. There, she works at Bartocci’s department store as a salesgirl, continues her education at Brooklyn College, helps out with Church functions, and battles a period of homesickness. Her time in New York exposes her to a world she never before imagined possible in her hometown, and instills in her...