What’s Up With The Ending?

The end of the story is a cliff hanger… prepare yourselves folks. I’m not afraid to admit that I shed a few tears… or maybe more than a few.

At the end of the story, Eilis makes her decision on what life she will choose; a life of promise in Brooklyn with Tony, or a life of familiarity in Enniscorthy with Jim Farrell. Ultimately, it is unclear where Eilis’s heart lies. She chooses to go back to Brooklyn to her husband Tony. We don’t know for sure if this is 100% what Eilis wants but she chooses Brooklyn and Tony because she knows that is where she belongs and she made a commitment with Tony that she will always cherish; their marriage.

What really sucks is that the story ends with Eilis leaving on the train to go home to Brooklyn. We never find out what happens when she returns to Tony. We never find out how Jim reacts when Eilis writes to him and explains her decision to leave him. Will Eilis and Tony live happily ever after? Does Eilis ever regret her decision? All of these questions will remain unanswered and it breaks my heart.
I like to think that Eilis chooses Tony because he is her true love. Eilis is scared to leave Enniscorthy again, but she knows that her new life in Brooklyn is too precious and bright to give up. Departing from her small Irish town for the big city once again is a hard transition. But Eilis is aware and proud of her decision to go back to America and make a life for herself with Tony. She will always wonder about Jim and what could’ve been. She will always wonder ‘what if’… but her doubts are not enough to keep her from her true destiny in life which is to be strong and free and happy in Brooklyn.