Eileen

Eileen is a fictionalized version of the author. Eileen is originally from the Boston neighborhood of Arlington, and after college she moves to New York City to pursue a career in poetry. Throughout the novel, Eileen struggles with relationships and with her own sexuality. After moving to New York, Eileen slowly realizes that she is a lesbian, and she begins to pursue relationship with women instead of with men. Eileen is fiercely passionate about poetry and performance as art forms, and after years of artistic and financial struggle, she is able to make a living mostly from her artwork. She is closely associated with the St. Mark’s Poetry Project in New York City, and she serves as the director of that program from 1984 to 1987.

Eva Nelson

Eva Nelson is on of Eileen’s English professors at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Eileen finds Mrs. Nelson sexually attractive...