The Cultural Transformation: The girl with green eyes

An author uses different approaches in their work to present an idea and make it have an impact on an individual’s life. While some of the methods might be effective in communicating a message, there are others that might not be effective. In the story “Girl with Green eyes” by Edna O’Brien seems to provide an insight on the issue of culture. She can take a look at how culture affects a young girl and her quest to find life. The primary question that one might seek to ask in this case is whether culture should impact a person’s decision to love or people should embrace the freedom of the contemporary culture.

Thesis: O’Brien is clinical in how she presents the message of cultural conflict, and her works provide much insight into the changing times.

The story can only be described as the mixture of guile and innocence of Catholic Irish Farm girls Kate Brandy and her friend Baba who move to Dublin in the quest to get a new experience in life. The two friends meet Eugene Gaillard, and they all pick interest in him. However, it is only Kate that pursues him. Eugene already realizes her intention and resists the move due to their age difference. He is twice her age and thinks that this could not be a good thing to do. However, later Eugene takes the move to fall in love with her. However, one might have expected things to change when she realizes that he is already married and soon to be divorced. However, this does not seem to be the case since she appeared to be undeterred and moved from her goal. The two eventually fall in a romantic relation. However, there is a dicey situation that the two have to thrive through. First, they have to deal with the fact she becomes entirely dependent on him emotionally. Besides they have to succeed through the scrutiny that comes from a Catholic family and his wife’s acerbic-tongued friends.

The story focuses on three principal characters, and many things seem to come out from these individuals. The first character here is Kate. As a young lady who appears to be tied up by the strict Irish and Catholic religion she has to tried hard and defied the odd and chart her course of life. As the protagonist of the story, she seems to have unaverred believe that she has to get her desire and she eventually achieves it beyond the odds. Eugene appears to provide an insight into the view that the older generation has over some of the things that seem new to the younger generation. When Kate falls in love with Eugene, she’s right on it and wants to be with him without thinking of the challenges that might come on the way.

On the other hand, Eugene seems to be quite afraid of this relationship considering the aspect of age. Although he finally falls in love with her, he still has some skepticism about the idea. He seems to represent the older generation that seems tied to old Irish culture that is not ready to change. Baba seems to serve the individuals that are often two in between two ends. They have a sincere desire to achieve their desire and defy the strings of culture; however, they opt to hold back. It is a classical situation of people that are never ready to break out of the comfort zone.

The point of view that the author seems to present here is that as much as the old culture has a role to play in the life of a person, the Irish people should give room to the contemporary culture. There is an apparent diversion from some of the old practices that seemed to define the way people had to live. In modern society represented by Kate, the most important thing is for one to pursue their passion. Not only is passion related to love but it transcends to another aspect of life. From the understanding of how the world is changing, one might agree to the view that the author seems to present. There is a change in the opinions that people have about some of the concepts that have existed for years. While there is a need to understand that these aspects have defined society, they are not to be taken as the ideal concepts. As people change and society get to the level of advancement as today, it is evident that many things are changing. While we are accepting we are accepting changes in other aspects, it is unrealistic to think that some concepts such as marriage might never change. This is one of the things that the author is seemingly telling to society.

The setting of the film in Dublin. It is written in 1964 at a period when the Irish people were deeply rooted in the Catholic Church. The church seemed to dictate the ways of life for each within this society. However, despite this fixation on religion Kates appears to offer a view on the contemporary culture and how it seems to contradict with the ways of life of the Irish people.

The author seems to use symbolism as an effective way to present different issues. Kate appears to represent the contemporary culture that seems to dominate the young people. On the other hand, the Catholic Church is used to describe the old ways. Kates appears to be under the scrutiny of the Catholic Church since she grows up to learn the techniques of the church. As an adult, she is not supposed to defy the teachings. However, as imagery of change, she seems to show that one should be afraid to embrace change. She is imagery of persistence and courage that young people should have when they seek to achieve something. While society might not realize or appreciate their efforts, the one thing one should have is the desire never to give up.

While one might content with the fact at times young people should not challenge the concepts that define the society, O’Brien seems to have a different view. She has provided a clear insight into the life of the young girls who seem to defy the odds. The author is successful in driving up the point. She argues that contemporary culture would often have a way of driving up the old habits. While people might tend to hold on dearly to old ways, at times, it becomes hard to stop the will of change.

 

 

Bibliography

O’Brien, E., 2013. Girl with green eyes (Vol. 2). Hachette UK.

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