Eva Character Analysis in Cloud Atlas

Eva is the daughter of Vyvyan Ayrs and Jocasta van Outryve de Crommelynck. Initially, her father’s new assistant, Robert Frobisher, annoys her, but she warms up to him over time. Robert, however, mistakes her new friendliness for romantic love and writes a letter where he proposes eloping—despite the fact that Eva already has a fiancé. The embarrassing incident happens shortly before Robert’s suicide, although in his suicide letter, Robert is adamant that love had nothing to do with it. Eva represents the passion and unpredictability of youth.

Eva Character Timeline in Cloud Atlas

The timeline below shows where the character Eva appears in Cloud Atlas. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...and Robert eats with Ayrs’s wife, Jocasta van Outryve de Crommelynck, and his daughter, 17-year-old Eva. (full context)

After a while, Robert begins to learn his way around the Château Zedelghem. At dinners, Eva complains about how long Robert is staying with them. As he looks around his room... (full context)

...time in a long time. Jocasta offers Robert a bigger room, to the annoyance of Eva. Robert begins to fear that Jocasta is subtly flirting with him. She gives him gifts... (full context)

...has begun to feel uneasy ever since he started “servicing” Jocasta every few nights whenever Eva isn’t home. Even more than Ayrs, Robert fears the servant, Hendrick, who remains a mystery... (full context)

...walking around killing time before meeting back up with Ayrs, he happens to run into Eva, who is with a man twice her age who’s wearing a wedding ring. Robert marvels... (full context)

...cautious about sharing work with Ayrs. The next day, Robert has a lunch appointment with Eva and the van de Velde family, who have five daughters, one of whom wants to... (full context)

...again about his father cutting him off. 29TH—X—1931—Robert confesses that he’s falling in love with Eva and daydreams about her often. (full context)

Robert goes out walking in some fields, full of anger. He daydreams about Eva and concludes that while he can’t imagine working another day for Ayrs, he also can’t... (full context)

...best work and is feeling well. His only regret is that he keeps waiting for Eva to show up at his hotel. (full context)

...to pay for his room. The next day, Robert feels better but still longs for Eva or even Jocasta. He tries to intercept Eva at an event at the van de... (full context)

Eva is with a handsome young Swiss man. Robert gets angry at him for handling Eva,... (full context)

...Robert doesn’t know visits him at his hotel room. The man, Verplancke, warns Robert that Eva’s fiancé has an influential father who might press assault charges. Verplancke says Robert might be... (full context)

...to blame his suicide on love, which would be ridiculous, given how briefly he loved Eva. Robert writes that he’s made arrangements for Rufus to receive his Cloud Atlas Sextet, as... (full context)