Araby

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The Araby's Sparks
“Araby”, a story told by a mystery narrator that ensnares the reader in an interesting and complex line of desires and disappointments. The story starts as the sister of the speaker's friend becomes the object of the narrators affection. He attempts to dazzle her with a gift from the Araby bazaar which is brought in to depict the idea of breaking free of the convening Dublin neighborhood. Thus through the uneasy setting and diverse range of characters, James Joyce let's the reader know that the theme of the narrative is centered around the conflict of an individual and the refusal of the reality of the world around him.
Dublin to the speaker is nothing more than a constant bother in his life. James Joyce discusses Dublin, Ireland as being a very lack luster and tight nit city as he says the area “stood at the blind end” (Joyce 2). Which isn't the first time James Joyce went into detail regarding Dublin and all its wonders. His narratives are at a constant repetition regarding this neighborhood. He depicts this fulfilling need when he discusses the “Araby” and the desire for Mangan's sister. Through out the narrative the speaker is stuck with the need to see her or hear her, he often conflicts with himself and those around him on whether or not to pursue the
Plunkett Page 2 matter. However his need for her grew to the point where it surpassed everything around him. The speaker, who is guessed to be a younger man, “I had hardly any patience with the serious work of life..” (48), is conflicted to what is to be assumed a common thing for most boys. Yet in a passing glance through the storyline the reader can come to terms that this is no mere infatuation, it is a growing love affair.
One might consider the hatre...

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... useless, to make my interest in her wares seem more real. Then I turned away slowly and walked down the middle of the bazaar” (99-101).
The theme through the narrative comes to halt as the young man is finally met with the crushing reality of his love affair. His dreams and desires turn from something that lightened the dreary and desolate world around him to something that merely confirmed its darkness. The boy's own immaturity becomes his downfall and thus completely the circle as he grows into the citizen that wanders Dublin, Ireland like all the ones before him. 'Araby' no longer is a place of hope for a future but a reminder of what truly is. The reality of the world is set and the young man finally comes to terms with it.

Works Cited

Joyce, James. "Araby." Araby Online. E-server, 1994-2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. .

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