James Joyces Araby - An Analysis of Araby :: Joyce Dubliners Araby Essays

An Analysis of Joyces Araby Araby is a short complex story by Joyce that I turn over is a reflection of his own life as a boy growing up in capital of Ireland. Joyce uses the voice of a young boy as a narrator however the narrator seems much more mature then the boy in the story. The story focuses on lack and reverie about darkness, despair, and enlightenment and I believe it is a retrospective of Joyces look back at life and the constant struggle between ideals and reality. I believe Araby employs many themes the two most app arent to me are escape and fantasy though I see signs of religion and a boys first love. Araby is an attempt by the boy to escape the bleak darkness of North Richmond Street. Joyce orchestrates an attempt to escape the short days of winter, where night falls early and streetlights are but feeble lanterns failing miserably to light the somberness of the dark muddy lanes(Joyce 38). Metaphorically, Joyce calls the street blind, a dead end much like Dublin itse lf in the mid 1890s when Joyce lived on North Richmond Street as a young boy. A recurrent theme of darkness weaves itself finished the story the boy hides in shadows from his uncle or to coyly catch a glimpse of his friend Mangans sister who obliviously is his first love.Araby is about escaping into the world of fantasy. The narrator is mistaken with his friends sister he hides in the shadows, peering secluded from a distance trying to spy her brown figure(Joyce 38). She is the light in his fantasy, someone who will trick up him out of darkness. I see many parallels to my life as a boy growing up in the inner city of Jersey City. We looked for escape also, a trip uptown to Lincoln Park, or take a train ride to New York City where we would gaze at the beauties on seventh Ave. The boy sees the bazaar at Araby as an opportunity to win her over, as a way to light the candle in her eyes. However, the boy is more muggy then shy, his adolescence is an impediment to his quest and he los t for words to speak. I vividly recall those times in my young life, driven by desires and try with the lack of experience to get through the moment. He fantasizes about her, how bringing her a gift from the bazaar will capture her heart.