ARABY Thesis

In James Joyce's short story "Araby," the main character is a nameless boy who harbors a secret infatuation towards a friend's sister. We see his growing obsession and how he confuses his adolescent feelings with real love. His daydreams of romance allow him to temporarily escape his mundane, ordinary existence. "Araby" symbolizes the hope the boy has for finally winning the heart of his beloved, but actually becomes the place where he becomes disillusioned and is quickly forced into adulthood.

The boy's obsession for the girl is made clear throughout the story. He seems to notice every detail such as "her dress swung as she moved her body and the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side"(?). Every morning he waits for the girl to appear and then he follows her. The young boy lies on the floor in the front of the parlor watching her. "The blind was pulled down to within an inch of the sash so that [he] could not be seen"(?). These are actions of someone who is likely very immature and very fixated on his "crush". The boy does not ever actually approach this girl or initiate any conversation, another indicator of his obsession and immaturity.

Finally, she speaks to him one day, "She asked me was I going to Araby"(?) A bazaar she wishes she could attend but could not. He tells her if he does go he will bring her something back. This exchange between him and the object of his affection has renewed the boy's spirit and he can hardly bear the passing of each day."What innumerable follies laid waste my waking and sleeping thoughts after that evening! I wished to annihilate the tedious intervening days"(?). The boy was unable to concentrate on anything else but "Araby", it was exotic, exciting and the place where he would surely buy a token to win the affections of his beloved. "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"(?).

The boy arrives at "Araby" only to find it nearly empty. He wanders over to a stall, still open, selling vases and tea sets. "Observing me, the young lady came over and asked me did I wish to buy anything. The tone of her voice was not encouraging; she seemed to have spoken to me out of a sense of duty"(?). The boy is clearly put off by the tone of the seller's voice and humbly declines. He walks away feeling embarrassed and rejected, knowing that he cannot afford to buy anything that is left at "Araby" for his beloved.

The boy walks away and the lights begin to go out signaling the closure of the bazaar and the dashing of his dreams. "Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger"(?). At this point the boy realizes how his obsession with this unobtainable girl has consumed him and he is harshly forced back into reality. He recognizes how foolish and naïve he's been. He is heartbroken but now wiser to the ways of the world.

(?) This means I am  not sure if we still use the line/verse # when writing a Thesis on a short story.  SORRY :(