James Joyce's Eveline and Araby

James Joyce's Eveline and Araby

James Joyce uses similar themes and language devices in both 'Araby'

and 'Eveline.' Although this is so, there are also important

differences to be noted. Joyce wrote these stories over one hundred

years ago but yet we can still relate to the issues covered in the

modern world today.

James Joyce could have written these short stories as an inspiration

from his own background or based them on the events happening in

Dublin at that time. These stories were written as a new century was

beginning. The people of Dublin soon realized the sense of hope for

the new century had faded due to the fall and death of Parnell. This

relates to both of the stories as a sense of false hope is given in

each. Joyce sensed exhaustion and emptiness in Dublin and these are

also the emotional results in both stories.

In 'Araby,' the story is written in first person narrative. This gives

you a chance to get a detailed point of view of the boy's feelings.

This makes you more emotionally involved in the story, as it becomes

more convincing if you understand the range of emotions the boy is

going through. On top of this, the story is written as though it were

an event, which happened many years ago. It could have been a

significant event in his life as it is very much portrayed in this

way. In 'Eveline,' the narration is third person. Although the

feelings are not expressed deeply, you can still get a sense of the

emotions she was feeling. These emotions are expressed greatly through

rhetorical questions.

Themes are an important issue in both stories. Both stories contain

the themes of blind love, religion, family, p...

... middle of paper ...

... frequently in both. An

example from 'Eveline' is, 'Why should she be unhappy?' This line

shows that even though there is a third person narration, we can still

experience her feelings.

Both stories have a modern relevance that we can interact with. In

'Araby,' the boy experiences momentary infatuation and this is

something everyone experiences in some point of their life. In

'Eveline,' she feels that she has to escape from her family and run

away with the man of her dreams. Do many women not dream of this

today?

In conclusion, I think that both these stories were both very similar

as the themes and language devices are essential in both. It has a

very good relevance to the modern world and the writer conveys

different advantages by using different narration techniques in both.

Both stories were successful!