A Small Story With A Big Message, By James Joyce

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“A Small Story with a Big Message” A story can have many different interpretations within it. Some hidden meanings can expand a story much past just the surface meaning. In “Araby” by James Joyce there are meaningful things that happen in the stories short life. Joyce does an amazing job at writing with deeper meaning and creating an in depth story. Going into detail in events in the story may lead some to wonder if there are not any other indirect interpretations present. Some indirect messages seem to be present are the dark and gloomy mood, setting, and tone given through the story, the way the narrator does everything for Mangan’s sister throughout the story, and the ending of the story and its possible interpretation. The setting of …show more content…

This could be a hidden interpretation passed over because it is not blatantly stated. It states in the story “When he was midway through his dinner I asked him to give me the money to go to the bazaar” (Joyce). This shows he cannot wait for the uncle to give him money so he can go to the bazaar, Also Mangan’s sister may not obviously influence the narrator to do anything. He does everything he does at the bazaar because he is looking for something for her. The narrator in this story also seems awkward in his ways. As stated by Ian Almond, “[the narrator is] described as ‘timid’ and feel shy and awkward” (369). The narrator may feel brought down by his environment and the dark tone that everything seems to give. This may be because of the situation the narrator is in that he may feel the need to impress Mangan’s sister by going to the bazaar with the intent of getting something for …show more content…

Most stories are not straight forwards and many contain messages or meanings hidden in smaller details throughout it. James Joyce does an amazing job at writing stories with so many hidden meanings for the readers to find. Without diving deep into a story or book it could be really tasking to find some of these hidden meanings that Joyce is so known for. “Araby” is an amazing example of this with all the different things that just one scene could depict. Being able to see the dark and gloomy mood, setting, and tone throughout the story and their meaning, the way the narrator does everything he does for others and how what he does is depending on others, and finally the ending of the story and its interpretation is important in this story. Being able to see past the surface on any story can greatly increase the quality of the read for

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