Long Island
Part One:ii
by Tóibín, ColmThe chapter opens by describing Tony’s father’s Saturday routine of inspecting his sons’ cars, a ritual that extends to Eilis when she buys a cheap car. Despite initial doubts, Tony’s father comes to appreciate the value of her purchase and regularly checks the vehicles, emphasizing the importance of maintenance. He recommends his trusted friend, Mr Dakessian, an Armenian garage owner known for his expertise, fair prices, and friendly service, contrasting him with less reliable mechanics. Eilis, managing the family business accounts, frequently interacts with Mr Dakessian, finding him as dependable as described.
During one of her visits, Mr Dakessian gifts Eilis a book on Armenian history, highlighting a shared experience of cultural displacement. He recounts his family’s escape from Armenia as a child and expresses a deep sadness about his heritage, especially for his son who grows up disconnected from their roots. The conversation reveals the significance of cultural identity and the desire to preserve it, illustrated by Mr Dakessian’s daughter’s upcoming Armenian wedding. Eilis relates this to Tony’s Italian family, noting their similar attachment to heritage.
Mr Dakessian later shares a book on Irish history, drawing parallels between the Armenian and Irish experiences of suffering and resilience. He discusses his reluctance to hire outsiders to maintain the family-run nature of his garage and extends an invitation to Eilis to join his business. This opportunity arises as his daughter prepares to leave, and Eilis, frustrated by resistance from Tony’s brothers to her accounting system, decides to accept the offer. The chapter explores themes of cultural continuity, family loyalty, and career decisions within immigrant communities.
The chapter concludes with Eilis negotiating her working conditions and salary with Mr Dakessian, establishing a professional agreement. She plans to transition smoothly by learning from the current employee and sets clear expectations for work hours and holidays. Mr Dakessian’s mock surprise at her terms and the discussion of salary reflect the practicalities of balancing respect for tradition with modern workplace arrangements. The chapter captures a moment of personal growth and change for Eilis, highlighting the complexities of family dynamics and cultural identity in everyday life.
FAQs
1. What role does Tony’s father’s Saturday ritual play in the family dynamics described in the chapter?
Answer:
Tony’s father’s Saturday ritual of visiting his sons to check on their cars symbolizes his continued care and involvement in their lives, despite their independence. It reinforces family bonds and shows his practical expertise and concern, as he inspects the cars personally and recommends trusted services like Mr Dakessian’s garage. His interactions also extend to Eilis, reflecting her growing integration into the family. This routine highlights themes of familial support, tradition, and the passing down of knowledge, setting a tone of reliability and connection in the family network.2. How does the relationship between Eilis and Mr Dakessian develop, and what does it reveal about cultural identity and heritage?
Answer:
Eilis’s relationship with Mr Dakessian evolves from a simple business interaction to a deeper cultural exchange. Initially, she deals with him as part of managing the family business accounts, but through his gift of a book on Armenian history and their conversations, she gains insight into his personal background and the significance of heritage. Mr Dakessian’s reflections on his family’s escape from Armenia and his daughter’s Armenian wedding contrast with Tony’s Italian family’s cultural persistence, illustrating how immigrant communities preserve identity. This relationship enriches Eilis’s understanding of cultural continuity and the emotional weight of heritage.3. Analyze the challenges Eilis faces while working with Tony and his brothers on the family business accounts. What does this conflict suggest about gender roles and authority within the family?
Answer:
Eilis encounters resistance from Tony and his brothers when she tries to implement a formal invoicing and accounting system. Enzo’s complaint that she is trying to tell them how to run their business, and the subsequent family gossip, indicate a struggle over authority and respect. Frank’s advice that they want her to be “more humble” and his cynical remark about not working for his brothers reveal underlying gender dynamics and possibly traditional views on women’s roles in family businesses. This conflict highlights the tension between Eilis’s professional competence and the patriarchal or fraternal resistance to her influence, illustrating broader themes of gender and power.4. What factors influence Eilis’s decision to accept Mr Dakessian’s job offer, and how might this decision impact her future both professionally and personally?
Answer:
Eilis’s decision is influenced by several factors: the difficulties she faces managing the family’s accounting due to resistance from Tony’s brothers, Mr Dakessian’s welcoming offer, and the opportunity to learn and work within a family business environment that values her skills. Professionally, this move offers her autonomy and a chance to develop new expertise in a stable setting. Personally, it may create tension with Tony, as she anticipates his preference for her to continue working for his family. This choice marks a step toward independence and self-assertion, potentially reshaping her identity and relationships.5. Considering Mr Dakessian’s comments about his son’s disinterest in the family business and his daughter’s upcoming marriage, what insights does the chapter provide about generational change and cultural continuity in immigrant families?
Answer:
The chapter illustrates the challenges immigrant families face in maintaining cultural traditions across generations. Mr Dakessian’s sadness over his son Erik’s lack of interest in the family business contrasts with his daughter Lusin’s upcoming marriage, which promises a cultural revival through an Armenian-language ceremony. This tension reflects a common pattern where younger generations may drift away from ancestral customs and occupations, while others actively preserve them. The chapter suggests that cultural continuity requires intentional efforts and that immigrant identity is negotiated differently by each generation, balancing assimilation and heritage preservation.
Quotes
1. “‘The best cars ever made stop dead in the street because their owners didn’t check the oil and the water.’”
This quote highlights the importance of diligence and care in maintaining valuable things, symbolized by the metaphor of car maintenance. It reflects the chapter’s recurring theme of responsibility and attention to detail, especially in familial and business relationships.
2. “‘Any problem with your car, you go to Dakessian.’”
This simple yet firm recommendation encapsulates trust and loyalty within community networks. It introduces Mr Dakessian as a key figure representing dependability and cultural heritage, setting the stage for Eilis’s deeper involvement with his family and business.
3. “‘I feel sad about it all, more than sad sometimes, especially watching my son Erik growing up here and knowing nothing about where he came from.’”
Here, Mr Dakessian expresses the poignant theme of displacement and cultural loss, emphasizing the emotional weight of heritage and identity in immigrant narratives. This insight adds depth to the chapter’s exploration of family history and the immigrant experience.
4. “‘I don’t want to advertise the job and have a stranger coming in. This is a family business and customers have been here for years. If you ever thought you’d like to move and work with the smell of exhaust fumes and the sound of cars revving then you would be welcome here.’”
This invitation marks a turning point for Eilis, symbolizing opportunity and trust within the community. It also reflects the chapter’s focus on tradition, continuity, and the challenges of integrating new members into established family enterprises.
5. “‘They are my brothers. I love them. But I would not be caught dead working for them.’”
Frank’s candid remark captures internal family dynamics and tensions regarding work and authority. It underscores the complexities Eilis faces in balancing familial loyalty and professional autonomy, a key conflict driving the chapter’s narrative.
Quotes
1. “‘The best cars ever made stop dead in the street because their owners didn’t check the oil and the water.’”
This quote highlights the importance of diligence and care in maintaining valuable things, symbolized by the metaphor of car maintenance. It reflects the chapter’s recurring theme of responsibility and attention to detail, especially in familial and business relationships.
2. “‘Any problem with your car, you go to Dakessian.’”
This simple yet firm recommendation encapsulates trust and loyalty within community networks. It introduces Mr Dakessian as a key figure representing dependability and cultural heritage, setting the stage for Eilis’s deeper involvement with his family and business.
3. “‘I feel sad about it all, more than sad sometimes, especially watching my son Erik growing up here and knowing nothing about where he came from.’”
Here, Mr Dakessian expresses the poignant theme of displacement and cultural loss, emphasizing the emotional weight of heritage and identity in immigrant narratives. This insight adds depth to the chapter’s exploration of family history and the immigrant experience.
4. “‘I don’t want to advertise the job and have a stranger coming in. This is a family business and customers have been here for years. If you ever thought you’d like to move and work with the smell of exhaust fumes and the sound of cars revving then you would be welcome here.’”
This invitation marks a turning point for Eilis, symbolizing opportunity and trust within the community. It also reflects the chapter’s focus on tradition, continuity, and the challenges of integrating new members into established family enterprises.
5. “‘They are my brothers. I love them. But I would not be caught dead working for them.’”
Frank’s candid remark captures internal family dynamics and tensions regarding work and authority. It underscores the complexities Eilis faces in balancing familial loyalty and professional autonomy, a key conflict driving the chapter’s narrative.
— Unknown
FAQs
1. What role does Tony’s father’s Saturday ritual play in the family dynamics described in the chapter?
Answer:
Tony’s father’s Saturday ritual of visiting his sons to check on their cars symbolizes his continued care and involvement in their lives, despite their independence. It reinforces family bonds and shows his practical expertise and concern, as he inspects the cars personally and recommends trusted services like Mr Dakessian’s garage. His interactions also extend to Eilis, reflecting her growing integration into the family. This routine highlights themes of familial support, tradition, and the passing down of knowledge, setting a tone of reliability and connection in the family network.
2. How does the relationship between Eilis and Mr Dakessian develop, and what does it reveal about cultural identity and heritage?
Answer:
Eilis’s relationship with Mr Dakessian evolves from a simple business interaction to a deeper cultural exchange. Initially, she deals with him as part of managing the family business accounts, but through his gift of a book on Armenian history and their conversations, she gains insight into his personal background and the significance of heritage. Mr Dakessian’s reflections on his family’s escape from Armenia and his daughter’s Armenian wedding contrast with Tony’s Italian family’s cultural persistence, illustrating how immigrant communities preserve identity. This relationship enriches Eilis’s understanding of cultural continuity and the emotional weight of heritage.
3. Analyze the challenges Eilis faces while working with Tony and his brothers on the family business accounts. What does this conflict suggest about gender roles and authority within the family?
Answer:
Eilis encounters resistance from Tony and his brothers when she tries to implement a formal invoicing and accounting system. Enzo’s complaint that she is trying to tell them how to run their business, and the subsequent family gossip, indicate a struggle over authority and respect. Frank’s advice that they want her to be “more humble” and his cynical remark about not working for his brothers reveal underlying gender dynamics and possibly traditional views on women’s roles in family businesses. This conflict highlights the tension between Eilis’s professional competence and the patriarchal or fraternal resistance to her influence, illustrating broader themes of gender and power.
4. What factors influence Eilis’s decision to accept Mr Dakessian’s job offer, and how might this decision impact her future both professionally and personally?
Answer:
Eilis’s decision is influenced by several factors: the difficulties she faces managing the family’s accounting due to resistance from Tony’s brothers, Mr Dakessian’s welcoming offer, and the opportunity to learn and work within a family business environment that values her skills. Professionally, this move offers her autonomy and a chance to develop new expertise in a stable setting. Personally, it may create tension with Tony, as she anticipates his preference for her to continue working for his family. This choice marks a step toward independence and self-assertion, potentially reshaping her identity and relationships.
5. Considering Mr Dakessian’s comments about his son’s disinterest in the family business and his daughter’s upcoming marriage, what insights does the chapter provide about generational change and cultural continuity in immigrant families?
Answer:
The chapter illustrates the challenges immigrant families face in maintaining cultural traditions across generations. Mr Dakessian’s sadness over his son Erik’s lack of interest in the family business contrasts with his daughter Lusin’s upcoming marriage, which promises a cultural revival through an Armenian-language ceremony. This tension reflects a common pattern where younger generations may drift away from ancestral customs and occupations, while others actively preserve them. The chapter suggests that cultural continuity requires intentional efforts and that immigrant identity is negotiated differently by each generation, balancing assimilation and heritage preservation.
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