Janice Boelk, Discussion 5

• What is “Araby” really about?

   “Araby” in my opinion is about a young boy that experienced his childhood playing with friends, becomes drawn to a crush but also matured shortly and becomes self-aware of adult issues surrounding him. The boy is completely infatuated by his friend Mangan’s sister, almost as if he built an obsession over her in a short period of time. As the story unfolds, the boy begins to fantasize about her almost in an unhinged way. He becomes fixated with the idea of going to the Araby Bazaar for an opportunity to buy her a gift to impress her and for her validation. Towards the end the boy starts to reflect on his desires, realizing he was drawn to the idea of admiration and motivated by pure vanity. He deemed to be a people pleaser and which results in feelings of low self-worth. At that moment he held himself accountable for his foolish ways and blossomed into a mature version of himself.