“Araby” is a short story about a young kid who falls in love with a girl who is Mangan’s sister. Mangan’s sister comments to the young boy one day that she wishes she could go the Araby bazaar but is unable to. The young guy informs the girl that he will attend and bring her something. He believes that by purchasing something for the girl from the bazaar, he will impress her. The small lad becomes fixated by the Araby and Mangan’s sister. On the day of the Araby, the young boy’s uncle returns late after promising to pay for the Araby. When the boy reaches in Araby, it is already too late; the majority of businesses have closed. The young kid is devastated because he was unable to purchase something for the girl. Finally, the young guy realizes that he had fantasized about Araby for so long just to be disappointed. He recognized his folly in being so consumed by his “adoration” for Mangan’s sister. The young boy has no concept of what love is. This narrative demonstrates the concept of maturation and coming of age. The youngster sees “love” and the Arabs for what they truly are, not what he imagines them to be. His time at the Araby functions as a form of education and maturation for him. As a result, “Araby” is truly a coming-of-age story.
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3 thoughts on “Marisa Cuni discussion week 5”
Hello Marisa, I agree with your point of view. Also, the narrator of “Araby” reflects on his childhood and the defining moment when he reached clarity on the world he stood before. The young boy, living in a world of lifeless and religious influence, becomes consumed with the lust of a neighboring girl. The girl, Mangan, is symbolically the narrator’s childhood obsession with growing up. As she resembles the desire to become an adult, the Araby is the enchanted vision of adulthood. By the end of the short story, he realizes the bareness of everyday life.
Marisa, to fully understand this very dark story, you have to let go of the idea that it has something to do with love. Yes, the boy is obsessed, but the question is why. What does the girl represent to him? What is it about his life that makes him need this light of fantasy? And what do you mean by a “coming-of-age story?” What happens at the end of the story? What does he realize?
Hi Marisa, I also agree with your answer as it was similar to my answer. This short story is a coming-of-age story but I believe it was also a bit more. I like the words you used in your answer as it enriches and makes you understand your point better. In my answer, I said that the short story is based on romantic irony and has a theme of expectations vs reality, as well as a coming-of-age story.