She soon becomes infatuated with Rebecca and we never quite work out if Eileen’s affections are solely platonic. Rebecca is well-dressed, charming, and beautiful enigma to Eileen. Eileen works at a correctional facility for young men (It felt very reminiscent of the recent Netflix show, Ratched) and this is where she meets Rebecca. In the bleak world that is Eileen’s life, there is of course a catalyst. On the other hand, they are also the source of a lot of pain, sorrow, and disappointments. They are, in Eileen’s case, a father, a parent, and supposedly a protector. As people who have experienced alcoholism and mental health issues with close family members can attest, it is a complex line to walk.

The irony being, that we often cannot see it for ourselves.Įileen’s plight is further compounded by the relationship she has with her father. As readers, it feels so easily identifiable in Eileen. It is not just that she can’t help herself, but also that she doesn’t want to help herself. However, I do believe that Eileen’s inertia is also what makes her a difficult character. I always err on the side of caution when using this phrase as it can be used to dismiss people’s real and valid experiences. That is not to say that her traumas are not valid or terrible, but more that she is unable to help herself out of her negative situation. She is stuck in what some people might call a state of victimhood.

They share, what can only be described as a completely dysfunctional relationship. She lives at home with her alcoholic father.

Life is messy, people rarely make good choices, and people stay or get trapped in relationships that they should leave but don’t know how to.Įileen, the namesake of Moshfegh’s novel, is trapped by circumstance. I feel like you love to hate her characters because she captures the true essence of what is at the core of all human nature. Moshfegh has an amazing way of writing perfectly awful characters in such a nuanced and special way. I have also reviewed her novel My Year of Rest and Relaxation which you can check out by clicking on the title. I am a big fan of Ottessa Moshfegh’s writing.

Book cover has a woman in a white coat walking in the snow with her back to the camera. Right hand holding Ottessa Moshfegh’s novel Eileen.

Book eileen by ottessa moshfegh