Brooklyn Character Analysis

Eilis Lacey

A young woman from Enniscorthy, Ireland, Eilis is the protagonist of Brooklyn. At the beginning of the novel, Eilis lives with her mother and her sister, Rose, in her childhood home. An intelligent… read analysis of Eilis Lacey

Rose Lacey

Rose is Eilis’s older sister. At 30 years old, Rose is beautiful, stylish, and confident. She works as a bookkeeper in an office in Enniscorthy, has an active social life, and frequently plays golf… read analysis of Rose Lacey

Eilis’s Mother (Mrs. Lacey)

Mrs. Lacey is a woman who lives in Enniscorthy, Ireland with her two daughters, Eilis and Rose. A widow, she is a principled woman who, despite her rather modest behavior, can still laugh and… read analysis of Eilis’s Mother (Mrs. Lacey)

Tony

A young Italian man who lives with his family in Brooklyn, Tony is Eilis’s first real love. Because he likes Irish women, he attends the dance that Father Flood hosts at the church, where… read analysis of Tony

Father Flood

An Irish priest who now lives in Brooklyn, Father Flood meets and plays golf with Rose while visiting Enniscorthy on vacation. A kind and temperate man, he insists that he knows Mrs. Lacey, so… read analysis of Father Flood

Miss Kelly

Miss Kelly is the owner of a grocery store in Enniscorthy. Eilis’s family doesn’t shop at Miss Kelly’s store because it’s too expensive, but Eilis decides to work there once a week when Miss… read analysis of Miss Kelly

Nancy Byrne

One of Eilis’s good friends in Enniscorthy, Nancy is focused on finding a suitable husband. Shortly before Eilis leaves for America, Nancy dances with George Sheridan, one of the most sought-after bachelors in… read analysis of Nancy Byrne

Jack Lacey

Jack is Eilis’s brother, who, along with their brothers Pat and Martin, has left Ireland to work in Birmingham. When Eilis also leaves home to travel to America, she takes a boat to… read analysis of Jack Lacey

George Sheridan

George Sheridan is a well-respected young man in Enniscorthy whose family owns a popular store. Eilis’s friend Nancy becomes excited when George asks her to dance one week, which is why she forces Eilis… read analysis of George Sheridan

Jim Farrell

A good friend of George Sheridan’s, Jim Farrell is a shy but initially abrasive young man who owns a pub in Enniscorthy. One of Eilis’s first encounters with Jim comes when she accompanies… read analysis of Jim Farrell

Miss Fortini

Eilis’s supervisor at Bartocci’s in Brooklyn, Miss Fortini is a hawk-eyed and attentive woman with an uncanny ability to tell whether or not her saleswomen are unhappy. For this reason, she notices right away… read analysis of Miss Fortini

Mrs. Kehoe

Mrs. Kehoe is the owner of the house that Eilis lives in when she comes to Brooklyn. An Irish woman herself, Mrs. Kehoe takes a liking to Eilis because she’s polite and well-behaved. Because of… read analysis of Mrs. Kehoe

Georgina

Georgina is an elegant British woman who bunks with Eilis on the ocean liner to America. When she first arrives, she forces Eilis to take the top bunk instead of the bottom. She then sneaks… read analysis of Georgina

Miss Bartocci (Elisabetta Bartocci)

Miss Bartocci is the daughter of Mr. Bartocci, the owner of the department store where Eilis works when she comes to Brooklyn. When Eilis first starts, Miss Bartocci tells her that Bartocci values their… read analysis of Miss Bartocci (Elisabetta Bartocci)

Mr. Bartocci

Mr. Bartocci is the owner of Bartocci’s, the department store where Eilis works when she comes to Brooklyn. Mr. Bartocci is a friend of Father Flood’s, which is how Eilis gets the job in… read analysis of Mr. Bartocci

Miss McAdam

Miss McAdam is one of Eilis’s fellow residents at Mrs. Kehoe’s house. Originally from Belfast, Ireland, she works in an office and is older than most of the other boarders and is also… read analysis of Miss McAdam

Miss Keegan

Miss Keegan is one of Eilis’s fellow residents at Mrs. Kehoe’s house. A quiet woman, she lives in the basement and doesn’t say much at the house dinners. When she abruptly moves out… read analysis of Miss Keegan

Diana

One of Eilis’s fellow residents in Mrs. Kehoe’s house, Diana is a young woman whose mother is Irish, though she herself has an American accent. Like Patty, Diana is “man-mad,” which annoys… read analysis of Diana

Patty

One of Eilis’s fellow residents in Mrs. Kehoe’s house, Patty is from upstate New York and, like Eilis, works in a department store in Brooklyn. Along with Diana, she is what Eilis thinks… read analysis of Patty

Dolores

Dolores is a young Irish woman who moves into Mrs. Kehoe’s house after Miss Keegan leaves. Unlike the other boarders, Dolores pays part of her rent by cleaning the house. Miss McAdam and Diana… read analysis of Dolores

Frank

Frank is Tony’s youngest brother, and one of the cutest little boys Eilis has ever seen. Despite his appearance, though, Frank is quite devilish, which is why Tony warns Eilis that he might say… read analysis of Frank

Annette O’Brien

Along with Nancy, Annette is one of Eilis’s good friends in Enniscorthy. Even though the three girls are close, though, Eilis and Nancy eventually start spending time without Annette to go on double… read analysis of Annette O’Brien

Minor Characters

Sheila Heffernan

Sheila Heffernan lives in Mrs. Kehoe’s house. Like Miss McAdam, she is judgmental and prude, often saying critical things about Eilis’s behavior and her relationship with Tony. As a result, Eilis finds herself frequently insulting Sheila as a way of defending herself.

Maurice

One of Tony’s brothers, Maurice is a mechanic. Along with Laurence and Tony, Maurice buys a plot of land in Long Island that the three brothers plan to develop.

Laurence

One of Tony’s brothers, Laurence is studying to be a carpenter. Along with Maurice and Tony, Laurence buys a plot of land in Long Island that the brothers plan to develop.

Mary

Mary works in Miss Kelly’s grocery store. Unlike Eilis, she works full-time, though this is to her great disadvantage, since Miss Kelly constantly disparages her in front of customers and insults her whenever the opportunity arises.

Professor Rosenblum

Professor Rosenblum teaches a law course at Brooklyn College that Eilis takes as one of her night classes. Eilis finds Professor Rosenblum fascinating but has trouble applying his lectures to the pertinent material, though she ultimately passes his exams.

Pat Lacey

Pat is one of Eilis’s older brothers, who lives and works in Birmingham with Jack and Martin.

Martin Lacey

Martin is one of Eilis’s older brothers, who lives and works in Birmingham with Jack and Pat.

Brooklyn

Colm Tóibín

Brooklyn Characters