“Araby” is a short story written by James Joyce and it’s about a young boy who falls in love with his friend’s sister, who we don’t come to find out her name. He seems to have an obsession with her, as he thinks about her and tears come to his eyes when doing so, he would do anything for her. When they both finally speak, she asks if he’s going to the bazaar on Saturday which is called Araby and that she wishes she can go. The narrator decides that he will go and get a gift for her to maybe impress her or grab her attention. After some time the narrator eventually gets to the bazaar and realizes that it’s nothing like he’d expect, it was too late and most of the shops closed down. This makes the narrator feel depressed after he leaves. He is now a different person and sees the world a different way, he realizes that the world is full of self-centered people who only care about themselves. This short story is based on romantic irony and has a theme of expectations vs reality. It’s also a coming-of-age story. That’s what this story is truly about
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2 thoughts on “Justine Hoppie Discussion Week 5”
Justine, thanks for the comments. This is not a story about love. Something else happens to this boy by the end of the story. Why do you say the boy is a “different person?” What does he realize at the bazaar? And what do you mean by a “coming-of-age story.” In what way does this protagonist come of age?
Hello Justine, the young boy is definitely a changed person by the end of the story. After all his efforts to try and impress the girl, he has failed. He learns that things aren’t always as they seem to be. He sees the difference between his fantasy of “love” and reality. This realization is a way of him maturing, as he finally sees things for what they really are. Which is why “Araby” is a coming of age story.