Wilvyn Jimenez Week 5

The short story “Araby” by James Joyce is about a boy that will literally do anything to make the girl he likes happy. Mangan’s sister and the boy don’t speak much, but she is always on his mind. As mention in the story, he thinks of her when he goes grocery shopping with his aunt and when he sits alone in the rear room oh his house. The boy is so enamored with the girl that he believes that he would never have the guts to talk with her and convey his thoughts. Mangan’s sister tells the boy one morning that she would be unable to travel to Araby due to a commitment to a retreat at her school, to which the boy says that he will bring her something from Araby because he is going. This causes the boy to stop acting as he used to; he is impatient for the day to arrive and is unable to concentrate in school. On the day of the boy going to the bazaar, his uncle is taking longer than usual. His uncle arrives very late at home and later on gave the boy the money. Luckily the boy arrives at the bazaar just before 10 PM when it starting to close down. He approaches one of the remaining stalls but leaves empty-handed, feeling unwelcome by the woman in charge of the merchandise. The narrator stands furiously in the empty market as the lights go out, having failed to make a purchase for Mangan’s sister. “Araby” by James Joyce is not a love story. What is “Araby” really about? “Araby” was actually about all the obstacles one faces in order to make another person happy and valued.