How we cite our quotes: (Part.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Instead, she determined that she would buy something, even just new shoes, which would make her feel more like the girls she had seen dancing. (3.12)
Although Eilis feels more adult after moving to America, it takes her some time to grow into the glamorous lady she secretly wants to be. This is mostly a confidence issue. Regardless, this passage shows that she's finally taking a step in the right direction.
Quote #8
"You'll have to shave down here," she said. "Otherwise, you'll spend your time on the beach pulling the elastic down." (3.572)
Nothing says "coming of age story" quite like some good old-fashioned feminine shaving advice, eh? This quote shows Eilis realizing that she's a sexual being… which is an important part of any person's growth into adulthood.
Quote #9
She noticed a woman studying her and she realized with amusement [...] that she must look glamorous in these streets. (4.33)
Eilis doesn't realize how much she's grown until she returns to her childhood home of Ireland. There, she's reminded of how much she's grown in relation to the unchanging small town of her youth and can't help but feel a tinge of pride.