Nancy and Eilis are the two women romantically involved with Jim Farrell. How do they represent different possible futures for him, and what factors draw him to each of them?

How do the Pressures of Living in a Small Community influence the characters in Long Island, and why is gossip such a powerful force in the novel?

Eilis must contend with two mother figures in Long Island. Compare and contrast Francesca and Mrs. Lacey, explaining how both impact Eilis’s decision-making when it comes to life with Tony.