Eilis Lacey needs to stop caring about her reputation so much. She constantly has to deal with snobs like Miss Kelly, who treats her like low-class dirt, and Miss McAdams, who's always trying to knock her down a peg or two.
Still, this is a pretty tough request to make of a relatively conservative Irish lass—it goes against her very nature. As Eilis grows and matures into a sharp, confident young woman, however, she starts to stick up for herself and care less what others think of her. They don't call Brooklyn a coming-of-age novel for nothing.
Questions About Respect and Reputation
- How is Eilis' concern about her reputation related to traditional Irish Catholic culture?
- By the end of the novel, is Eilis unconcerned with her reputation? Explain.
- Compare and contrast Miss Fortini and Miss Kelly.
- Does living in America make Eilis more concerned about her reputation? Why or why not?