How we cite our quotes: (Part.Paragraph)
Quote #4
All of this came to her like a terrible weight and she felt for a second that she was going to cry. (2.55)
This is what happens when Eilis first receives letters from back home. Instead of making her feel better, they just remind her of everything that she's left behind. What a bummer.
Quote #5
She was nobody here. It was not just that she had no friends and family; it was rather that she was a ghost in this room, on the streets on the way to work. (2.56)
At this point in the novel, Eilis still hasn't built up a social support system to help her get through these hard times. Even worse than that, however, she feels like no one notices her, that no one understands her. If we were in her position, we'd be praying for teleportation powers every night before we went to bed.
Quote #6
She considered writing to him now asking him if he too had felt like this, as though he had been shut away somewhere and was trapped in a place where there was nothing. (2.77)
At her lowest point, Eilis feels like she's in exile from her homeland. There's nothing for her here in America except for loneliness, and she'd give anything to see the craggy coast of Ireland once again. But here's the thing about hitting rock bottom, folks—once you've reached your lowest point, the only place left to go is up.