Analysis of "Araby"

“Araby,” which was written by James Joyce, is a short story about a boy who loves his neighbor, his friend’s sister. Joyce presents a story that seems to be rather simple and widespread. However, if to analyze it, it can be revealed that the story raises several profound themes. This paper analysis will focus on the last passage of this story, which is of great significance, because it is a revelation and it approaches such themes as economic, social, and spiritual stagnation.

The passage under consideration is important, because it is an epiphany. The main character lives in the world of dreams. The reader may infer it from the text, because the boy thinks that the bazaar is full of wonders and beautiful things:

“The syllables of the word Araby were called to me through the silence in which my soul luxuriated, and cast an Eastern enchantment over me” (Joyce 1203-1204).

When he visits this place, he starts to understand that there is nothing exceptional – just people who trade. Knowing what the bazaar truly is, the reader may imagine how disappointed the boy is, when he sees dirty stalls in grayish colors instead of any chic.

The boy also believes that he has some kind of a relationship with Mangan’s sister or a prospect of having relationship in the future. That is why he wants to purchase her something in order to impress her. In reality, their conversations are casual, and the girl feels nothing but cordiality as he is her brother’s friend. The boy is in love with this girl:

“I had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words, and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood” (Joyce 1202).

However, he is so young that he does not understand the essence of love. His love is not mutual; besides, his dreams have no ground, because he barely knows this girl: it is impossible to know a person without talking to him or her. The reader may notice that the boy watches this girl from the distance, and their conversations involve only several phrases. When the boy sees a salesgirl, who is talking to two men, it is the first time when he observes how people flirt with each other. This scene makes him realize that, apart from love and friendship, there are other forms of relations between people. Thus, this passage describes a revelation: the boy realizes that he is naïve, and the fact that Mangan’s sister talks to him does not necessarily mean that she fancies him.

The concluding paragraph of “Araby” presents the image of social stagnation. It is clear from the text that the main character is somewhat isolated from his family. First, for some reason, the author mentions the boy’s uncle and aunt, but not his parents. Maybe the boy does not have parents. Besides, his relations with his family are not very close, considering that he cannot tell them why he needs to get to the bazaar that day. He cannot share his thoughts with his friends and the girl as well. Thus, it is possible to suppose that the main hero is very lonely.

There is also a theme of spiritual stagnation that is shown in the last passage. When the boy asks his aunt if she would allow him to go out in the evening to the bazaar, she is concerned about the probability that the boy has some ties with the Protestants. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the boy’s family is very religious and the boy’s upbringing is based on Catholic rules. That is why he is unaware of the existence of flirt. According to his beliefs, everything that happens between a woman and a man out of wedlock besides friendship is a sin. His piousness prevents him from seeing the real world up to the point when the boy observes the salesgirl’s behavior.

The last line of “Araby” also represents a theme of economic stagnation. The main character dreams to visit the bazaar, because he thinks that it is a unique place that will impress him with its splendidness. He probably imagines colorful stalls, carpets, expensive textile, sellers, who wear bizarre clothes, and animators holding rare animals. However, it becomes evident that the place is not fascinating at all. On the contrary, it is uncheerful. Moreover, when the boy takes a train, he is alone there, “I remained alone in the bare carriage” (Joyce 1205). It means that citizens have too little money to go to this place. The bazaar represents poverty, and this visit opens the main character’s eyes.

In conclusion, the last passage of “Araby” represents the moment when a young person starts to see the world clearly. The boy realizes that he has been rather naïve: the bazaar proves to be unremarkable, and his loved one does not like him. The last passage also involves the themes of social, economic, and spiritual stagnation.