Colm Toibin

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In Brooklyn, Colm Toibin conveys the journey of the development of oneself through the trials of cultural and emotional upheaval. With protagonist Eilis, Toibin relates to the universal struggles of migration as he encapsulates the growth despite the challenges she will face as she pivots to a new society as a woman in the 1950s as she blooms out of her conservative mores and embraces the lifestyle of Brooklyn. In Colm Toibin's Brooklyn, the challenges of conservative values are explored as they hinder the growth of women in the 1950's. In the coming of age novel, Eilis Lacey is faced with many challenges as she is trapped in the life of Enniscorthy. Being a woman, she is faced with stereotypical barriers as she is prone to believe that when …show more content…
Furthermore, Eilis faces challenges such as lack of job opportunities in Enniscorthy, as there were "no jobs for anyone in Enniscorthy, no matter their qualifications". Furthermore, when living with her mother, Toibin uses the simile as "Eilis felt like a child" when attending to the doctors, having a lack of independence when with her family. Through this, growth seems almost impossible whilst Eilis lives in a conservative 1950's society. Colm Toibins Brooklyn highlights that migration can shape one's identity as they explore a new culture and face emotional upheaval. In acts 2 and 3, Toibin identifies how the protagonist branches out to find her identity as she migrates from her small town to the bustling city of Brooklyn. When living in the house of boarders, Eilis finds herself feeling as if she were "a ghost in this room". Toibin's use of imagery conveys to the reader to empathise deeply with Eilis as she faces with herself as she adjusts to her time in Brooklyn after feeling homesickness when receiving letters from her …show more content…
Toibins Brooklyn demonstrates growth even through the challenges and emotional upheaval. When Eilis returns back to Enniscorthy, her best friend Nancy noticed Eilis' style and clothing, as well as behaviour as she tells her that "you have changed". Through Eilis' journey of identity, the people around her back in her hometown see her in a new light. Despite Eilis seeing Rose as the woman she wanted to be and idolised, she turned down the opportunity to take her clothes when her mother suggests wearing them, she refuses the opportunity, saying "I [Eilis] have my own clothes". Throughout the book, Toibin uses articles of clothing as metaphors of identity, contrasting Rose and Eilis' clothing. In the beginning, it is highlighted that she was wearing a "cream coloured cardigan" that Eilis adored. However, at the end of the book, Eilis develops her own sense of style, and identity, as she thought when coming back to Enniscorthy that "the colours she was wearing were too bright". The contrast Toibin makes between the clothing in act 1 and 4 demonstrates the growth Eilis has had, exploring her identity after her migration to
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