“In one flash, an image of her elder sister, Rose, dead now more than twenty years, came into her mind. All through her childhood, even in the smallest crisis, she could appeal to Rose, who would take control.”

The death of Eilis’s sister Rose is one of the defining moments of Eilis’s life, not only for the grief it causes her, but also because this event sends her back to Ireland, where she falls in love with Jim. Even before this, Rose was a consequential person in Eilis’s life as her main confidante and guide through life, and now that Eilis is in crisis with Tony, she feels Rose’s loss even more severely.

“Eilis knew that she should discuss the possibility of taking the job at the garage with Tony, but she was certain that he would want her to continue looking after the books for himself and his brothers.”

Eilis struggles to feel independent in Long Island, not only because she lives next door to almost all of Tony’s family but also because of her career involvement with them. Eilis desperately wants to work for Mr. Dakessian because it will allow her the opportunity to work away from Tony and his brothers, in a place where she hopes to be more respected.

“‘There are no circumstances under which I am going to look after a baby. It is your business, not mine’ ‘Maybe you don’t want to be,’ he said softly, ‘but you are married to me.’”

In this brief conversation, Tony demonstrates how he thinks of Eilis and what he believes is her role as his wife. He believes Eilis should take care of the baby because she is his wife, even though the baby is the result of his infidelity. He negates her independence and right to stand her ground against adopting the child.