Brooklyn, Colm Tóibín

Welcome to the World of Brooklyn!

Hello there! You are about to dive into Colm Tóibín’s Brooklyn, a beautifully written novel that explores what it feels like to leave home, start over, and be torn between two different lives. Even though it is set in the 1950s, the feelings of homesickness, making big life choices, and finding your identity are things we all face today.

In your exam, you will be expected to talk about how the story is told (narrative), how the characters are built (characterisation), and how the time and place (context) affect the story. Don't worry if it seems like a lot to take in—we’ll break it down step-by-step!

1. The "Why" and "Where": Understanding Context (AO3)

Context is just a fancy word for the background of the story. In Brooklyn, the context is the engine that drives Eilis’s decisions. To understand Eilis, you have to understand her world.

1950s Enniscorthy, Ireland

Imagine living in a small town where everyone knows your business. In 1950s Ireland, the economy was struggling. There were very few jobs for young people, especially women.

• Lack of Opportunity: Eilis doesn't leave because she wants an adventure; she leaves because there is no future for her in Ireland.
• Social Pressure: People were expected to follow strict rules, often influenced by the Catholic Church and family duty.

1950s Brooklyn, USA

Brooklyn was the "Land of Opportunity," but it was also a "Melting Pot."

• The Irish Diaspora: Thousands of Irish people moved to New York. Eilis lives in a boarding house with other Irish girls, showing that even in America, she is surrounded by her own culture.
• Modernity: Compared to Enniscorthy, Brooklyn is fast, crowded, and full of new things like big department stores and different cultures (like the Italian community Eilis meets through Tony).

Quick Review: Context isn't just "history facts." It’s the reason why Rose (Eilis's sister) arranges for Eilis to leave. Rose sacrifices her own future to give Eilis a chance that simply didn't exist in Ireland.

Key Takeaway: Eilis’s move isn't just a trip; it’s an economic necessity caused by the state of Ireland in the 1950s.

2. Who is Eilis Lacey? (Characterisation)

The author, Colm Tóibín, uses characterisation to show us how Eilis grows. At the start, she is very passive—she lets things happen to her. By the end, she has to make a huge choice.

Eilis: The Quiet Observer

Eilis is not a loud hero. She is "introspective," which means she spends a lot of time thinking and observing. Analogy: Eilis is like a camera. She watches everyone else (her mother, Rose, Miss Kelly) and tries to fit into the frame they have built for her.

The Two Men: Tony vs. Jim

These two characters represent Eilis’s two possible lives:

• Tony (Brooklyn): Represents the future. He is kind, Italian-American, and offers Eilis a new identity as a wife and homeowner in a new country.
• Jim Farrell (Ireland): Represents the past and "what could have been." He is comfortable, familiar, and offers Eilis the high social status she never had before in Enniscorthy.

Memory Aid: Remember the "T-Chart" of Eilis’s life: Tony = Tomorrow (Future/USA) Jim = Just the same (Past/Ireland)

Key Takeaway: Eilis’s development is a journey from being a girl who is told what to do to a woman who decides who she is.

3. How the Story is Told (Narrative and Voice)

This is where we look at AO2—how the writer uses language to shape meaning.

Third-Person Limited Point of View

The story is told using "she" (third person), but the narrator only knows what Eilis is thinking. This is called focalisation.
Why does this matter? Because it makes us feel Eilis’s isolation. We feel her homesickness because we are trapped inside her head, just like she feels trapped in her new life at first.

Understated Language

Tóibín’s writing style is very plain and simple. He doesn't use big, dramatic words. This matches Eilis’s personality.
Example: When Eilis is homesick, Tóibín describes it as a physical pain, but he does it in a very matter-of-fact way. This makes the emotion feel more real and less like a "movie drama."

The Power of Letters

In the 1950s, there were no emails or WhatsApp. Letters were the only way to connect the two worlds.

• Letters from home bring guilt and homesickness.
• The delay in letters shows the distance between Eilis’s two lives.

Did you know? Tóibín often focuses on what is not said. In Brooklyn, the most important feelings are often hidden under polite conversation.

4. Key Themes to Watch For

Think of themes as the "big ideas" the book wants you to think about.

Home and Belonging

Can you have two homes? Eilis feels like a stranger in Brooklyn at first, but when she returns to Ireland, she realizes she has become a stranger there, too. She is "caught between two shores."

Duty vs. Desire

This is Eilis’s biggest struggle. Duty: Staying in Ireland to look after her lonely mother. Desire: Returning to the life and husband she chose for herself in America.

Identity and Transformation

Watch how Eilis’s appearance changes. In Brooklyn, she learns how to wear makeup, how to dress for the beach, and how to carry herself with confidence. When she goes back to Ireland, people notice she "looks" American. Her environment has changed her soul.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't say Eilis is "weak" because she struggles to choose. The novel shows that social pressure and family guilt are incredibly strong forces that are hard for anyone to fight.

5. Symbols and Motifs (Small details with big meanings)

The Sea: Represents the terrifying gap between her two lives. Her seasickness on the way to America symbolizes her "sickness" at leaving her old identity behind.

Miss Kelly’s Shop: Represents the judgmental, narrow-minded side of Ireland. Miss Kelly "sorts" people by class, which is exactly what Eilis escapes in America.

The "Blue" Dress: Often, colors and clothes are used to show Eilis’s transformation into a sophisticated woman.

Summary Checklist for Your Revision

• Context: Can I explain why Eilis had to leave Ireland?
• Narrative: How does the "quiet" writing style reflect Eilis’s character?
• Character: How does Eilis change from the beginning of the book to the end?
• Comparison: What do Tony and Jim Farrell represent in Eilis’s mind?
• Quotes: Do I have 3-4 short quotes about homesickness, letters, or Eilis’s feelings about her two "lives"?

Final Encouragement: You've got this! Brooklyn is a story about the "quiet" moments in life that end up being the biggest turning points. Just focus on Eilis’s feelings and the choices she has to make, and you’ll do great in your exam!