James Joyce’s “Araby”

Background “Araby” is one of 15 connected stories that make up Dubliners written when Joyce was a young man It is part of a larger story of life in Dublin around the turn of the 19th century

The Epiphany “Araby” is very much associated with Joyce’s idea of epiphany (a literary technique made famous by Joyce). Epiphany – Greek: “to show” Joyce uses the term to refer to “a sense of sudden radiance and revelation while observing a commonplace object” As with all of Joyce's stories in Dubliners, the main character undergoes an epiphany that reveals to him the true nature of his predicament.

“Araby”’s Epiphany The boy hears the conversation at the bazaar between a woman and two men It dawns on him that the bazaar, which he thought would be so exotic and exciting, is really only a commercialized place to buy things. Furthermore, he now realizes that Mangan's sister is just a girl who will not care whether he fulfills his promise to buy her something at the bazaar. His conversation with Mangan's sister, during which he promised he would buy her something, was really only small talk—as meaningless as the one between the English girl and her companions. He leaves Araby feeling ashamed and upset. This epiphany signals a change in the narrator—from an innocent, idealistic boy to an adolescent dealing with the harsh realities of life. At the end of the story, the boy overhears a trite conversation between an English girl working at the bazaar and two young men, and he suddenly realizes that he has been confusing things. It dawns on him that the bazaar, which he thought would be so exotic and exciting, is really only a commercialized place to buy things. Furthermore, he now realizes that Mangan's sister is just a girl who will not care whether he fulfills his promise to buy her something at the bazaar. His conversation with Mangan's sister, during which he promised he would buy her something, was really only small talk—as meaningless as the one between the English girl and her companions. He leaves Araby feeling ashamed and upset. This epiphany signals a change in the narrator—from an innocent, idealistic boy to an adolescent dealing with the harsh realities of life.

Imagery The use of pictures, description, or figures of speech such as SIMILES and METAPHORS to visualize a mood, idea or CHARACTER. Imagery may involve all the senses, but usually involves the sense of sight. Light and dark Sight and blindness The quest Araby – evokes the idea of a distant, exotic realm

Symbolism SYMBOL, SYMBOLISM: A symbol is something that stands for something else. Symbolism is multi-dimensional--it may convey a number of meanings. Christian symbolism (eg: the garden // the Garden of Eden)] Araby – symbolizes the exotic

Discussion Questions What's is the central theme in this story? Discuss the importance of setting. What aspects are oppressive and what are liberating? Explain? How does the bazaar Araby take on symbolic importance? Where's the epiphany in the story? What does the boy realize about himself? Is anything gained by the narrator through his frustration and humiliation? Look at the first paragraph and examine the wording and images Joyce uses to set the scene. What does he tell us about the speaker's vision of home? What striking images help you understand the boy’s feelings?