Miss McAdam Character Analysis in Brooklyn

Miss McAdam is one of Eilis’s fellow residents at Mrs. Kehoe’s house. Originally from Belfast, Ireland, she works in an office and is older than most of the other boarders and is also rather old fashioned, frequently judging people like Diana and Patty and making comments about how they conduct their lives. To Eilis’s chagrin, she ends up accidentally aligning herself with Miss McAdam and Sheila Heffernan (another older resident) when she first arrives, unintentionally forcing herself to lead a boring existence instead of going out with Diana and Patty and having fun. When she eventually breaks away from Miss McAdam and Sheila, they both hold it against her.

Miss McAdam Character Timeline in Brooklyn

The timeline below shows where the character Miss McAdam appears in Brooklyn. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Eilis’s room is near Miss McAdam ’s. Miss McAdam is older, works as a secretary, is uninterested in fashion, and is... (full context)

Immigration, Social Status, and Reputation Theme Icon

...but she refuses because she hasn’t been paid yet. Instead, she goes on walks with Miss McAdam , regretting that she can’t simply walk alone, since Miss McAdam complains about the other... (full context)

...nothing to do with her room change. Several days after she moves into the basement, Miss McAdam pulls her aside and asks if she heard what happened. When Eilis looks confused, she... (full context)

Eilis resents Miss McAdam for trying to scare her, if that is indeed what she’s doing. In the following... (full context)

...to come to a bar with them and some friends before going to the dance. Miss McAdam and Sheila Heffernan, on the other hand, want her to go with them, suggesting that... (full context)

...be too immersed in her contact with a man to notice them. At this point, Miss McAdam declares that they should leave, and Eilis goes with her and Sheila. On the walk... (full context)

...law books, Eilis immerses herself in them until dinnertime, at which point she realizes that Miss McAdam and Sheila Heffernan aren’t speaking to her. She wishes she could ask Patty and Diana... (full context)

...a new boarder living in her old room. Her name is Dolores, and Diana and Miss McAdam come to Eilis’s door that night to talk about her. Though Eilis is surprised to... (full context)

...discomfort with the fact that none of their friends have heard of him. Hearing this, Miss McAdam declares that she hopes the dances aren’t going to be “inundated with Italians” now that... (full context)

Communication, Hidden Emotion, and Secrecy Theme Icon

...has to enter through the front door. Once inside, she hears Mrs. Kehoe loudly telling Miss McAdam that she’s going to keep the basement locked, saying, “You wouldn’t know who would be... (full context)