Why does James Joyce describe Eveline as a "helpless animal"?

James Joyce, author of the short story "Eveline," uses the simile "like a helpless animal" in order to describe Eveline's spiritual paralysis.

Throughout the narrative of Joyce's story, the main character, Eveline, dreams of escaping her repressive environment, in which she is subjected to humiliation by her superior at work, Miss Gavan, who "had always had an edge on her," and by her oppressive father, whose violence she fears and to whom she "always gave...

James Joyce, author of the short story "Eveline," uses the simile "like a helpless animal" in order to describe Eveline's spiritual paralysis.

Throughout the narrative of Joyce's story, the main character, Eveline, dreams of escaping her repressive environment, in which she is subjected to humiliation by her superior at work, Miss Gavan, who "had always had an edge on her," and by her oppressive father, whose violence she fears and to whom she "always gave her entire wages."

Despite her father's having forbidden her to see a sailor after learning of her involvement with this young man, Eveline plans to "explore another life with Frank." He has asked her to go away with him by the night-boat to Buenos Ayres, where he has a home. The sailor's tales of distant lands have enchanted Eveline, and she perceives life with Frank as offering her excitement and escape from Ireland and the spiritually and culturally impoverished life she has been living.

However, on the night that they are to leave Ireland, and Eveline is to escape her unhappy life, Eveline begins to feel distressed. She prays to God "to direct her, to show her what was her duty." It is then that she seems to hear "[A] bell clang in her heart," and she feels that Frank "would drown her" as he urges her to board the ship. In fear and spiritual paralysis Eveline clutches the iron railing:

She set her white face to him, passive, like a helpless animal. Her eyes gave him no sign of love or farewell or recognition.

Paralyzed by her sense of obligation to her mother's memory and by her duty to protect her little brother and obey her father, Eveline is rendered helpless to break from her old life and begin a new one.