The protagonist of James Joyce’s “Araby” is a young boy who is on the cusp of adolescence. He is naive, idealistic, and romantic, and his character is essential to the story’s outcome. He is a dreamer, and his romanticized view of the world leads him to believe that the bazaar, Araby, will be a magical place that will fulfill his desires. He is also naive in his expectations of the bazaar, believing that it will be a place of wonder and beauty, and that he will be able to find something special for the girl he loves. The boy’s naivety and idealism are what lead him to his disappointment at the end of the story. He is unable to find anything of value at the bazaar, and his romanticized view of the world is shattered. His character is also important in the way that it affects the story’s tone. His idealism and naivety create a sense of innocence and hope, which is then contrasted with the harsh reality of the bazaar. This contrast creates a sense of sadness and disillusionment, which is the main emotion of the story. In conclusion, the protagonist of “Araby” is a young boy who is naive, idealistic, and romantic. His character is essential to the story’s outcome, as his naivety and idealism lead him to his disappointment at the end. His character also affects the story’s tone, as his innocence and hope are contrasted with the harsh reality of the bazaar.
2 thoughts on “Stephon Gracia discussion board 5”
I agree with you. He was very vulnerable and he didn’t even think before his words and actions. He basically promised her a gift without even knowing if he could really get it for her for sure. If he went to the bazaar just to have fun, he would not have been so worried about a gift for the girl and he would’ve taken time to have fun. He wasted so much time each day just thinking about her and watching her, he could have been doing other things. It’s okay to be young and in love but he allowed it to consume him. Even though he was aware that he didn’t know why he liked her, he still let it control his actions.
Stephon, you offer a good list of character traits that help propel the story to its devastating conclusion. Your post shows how central character analysis is to the understanding of a complex and subtle piece of literature like “Araby.”