English Literature

ARABY
I. AUTHOR
James Joyce was an influential Irish modernist writer born on February 2, 1882, in Dublin,
Ireland, into a middle-class Catholic family. His upbringing and experiences in Dublin would
heavily influence his writing.
Joyce's writing is characterized by its linguistic innovation, stream-of-consciousness narration,
and intricate wordplay. He was a key figure in the development of literary modernism, alongside
writers like Virginia Woolf and T.S. Eliot, and his works continue to be studied for their formal
experimentation and thematic depth.
Joyce lived a nomadic life, residing in various cities across Europe, including Trieste, Zurich,
and Paris. He struggled with poverty, health issues, and legal troubles throughout his life, but he
remained dedicated to his writing.
II. SETTING:
1. Time: "Araby" is set in the late 19th or early 20th century, a time of great social and cultural
change in Ireland. This period saw the decline of the Irish nationalist movement, economic
stagnation, and the dominance of the Catholic Church. Joyce's choice of this period allows
him to explore the tensions and contradictions within Irish society and culture.
 It reflects the stifling and oppressive atmosphere of the protagonist's environment, mirroring
his emotional state.
2. Place: Dublin serves as both a physical and symbolic backdrop for the story. The city's
streets, buildings, and landmarks are vividly depicted, creating a sense of atmosphere and
realism. Additionally, Dublin's status as a provincial city on the fringes of the British Empire
reflects the protagonist's feelings of confinement and entrapment within his environment.
 North Richmond Street:
Where the unnamed boy lives with his uncle and aunt. This place seems brown, drab, dull, and
“blind” to him.
 Araby:
Is idealized vision of the bazaar, which previously “cast an Eastern enchantment” over him,
It shows the image of emptiness and a feeling of silence.
III. PLOT
1. Exposition: The story begins by introducing the unnamed protagonist, a young boy living in
Dublin. He describes his neighborhood, which is situated near a street market and a Catholic
church. The protagonist is infatuated with Mangan's sister and often watches her from a
distance.
2. Rising action:

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- The protagonist becomes increasingly obsessed with Mangan's sister, longing to impress her
and win her affection.
- He learns about the Araby bazaar and promises to buy her a gift from there, seeing it as an
opportunity to prove himself worthy.
- The protagonist eagerly anticipates attending the bazaar, imagining it as a place of wonder and
excitement where he can fulfill his romantic fantasies.
3. Climax:
- The climax occurs when the protagonist finally arrives at the Araby bazaar, only to find that it
is closing and most of the stalls are already shut down.
- He experiences a moment of profound disillusionment as he realizes that his idealized vision of
the bazaar does not match the reality before him.
- The climax is marked by the protagonist's recognition of the futility of his romantic pursuit and
the harshness of the adult world.
4. Falling action
- He wandered around the near-empty bazaar.
- He saw the young lady's harsh glance at him.
- Disheartened and disappointed, the protagonist leaves the bazaar empty-handed, feeling
defeated and disillusioned.
- He reflects on the disparity between his romantic fantasies and the grim reality of his life in
Dublin.
5. Resolution
- The story concludes with the protagonist's realization that his romantic illusions have been
shattered. He acknowledges the drabness and limitations of his surroundings, recognizing the
futility of his infatuation with Mangan's sister.
- The protagonist's disillusionment marks a significant moment of self-awareness and growth, as
he comes to terms with the harsh realities of adulthood and the loss of innocence.
IV. POINT OF VIEW: First-person Limited perspective
 allowing readers direct access to the protagonist's thoughts and experiences, fostering
intimacy and empathy with the characters.
- Joyce employs a stream-of-consciousness style, allowing readers to experience the protagonist's
thoughts and associations in real time, mirroring the meandering nature of human thought.
- The protagonist's narration is inherently subjective and unreliable, colored by his emotions and
biases, adding depth and complexity to the narrative, and inviting readers to critically engage
with his experiences and perceptions.
V. CHARACTERS:
1. The protagonist:
- The unnamed protagonist is a young boy on the cusp of adolescence, living in Dublin. He is
infatuated with Mangan's sister, whom he sees as an object of beauty and perfection.
- Throughout the story, the protagonist experiences a journey from idealism to disillusionment, as
he grapples with the harsh realities of adulthood and the limitations of his romantic fantasies.

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- His emotional turmoil and inner conflict are central to the narrative, as he navigates the
complexities of desire, identity, and self-discovery.
2. Mangan’s sister:
- Mangan's sister remains a mysterious and elusive figure throughout the story, symbolizing the
protagonist's idealized vision of love and beauty.
- Despite her limited appearance in the narrative, her presence looms large in the protagonist's
mind, driving his actions and shaping his perceptions of the world.
- Mangan's sister serves as a catalyst for the protagonist's journey of self-discovery, ultimately
leading him to confront the disparity between his romantic ideals and the grim reality of his life.
3. The boy’s uncle:
- The protagonist's uncle is mentioned briefly in the story as the reason for the protagonist's
delayed arrival at the Araby bazaar.
- While the uncle's character is not developed in detail, his absence serves as an obstacle to the
protagonist's quest and underscores the theme of external forces shaping the protagonist's
experiences.
4. The boy’s aunt:
- The aunt represents the domestic sphere and traditional family values within the story. She is
responsible for the protagonist's upbringing and is portrayed as a figure of stability and routine in
his life.
- While her character is not extensively developed, her presence serves to ground the protagonist
within the context of his familial environment.
VI. THEMES
Maturity is accepting the harsh truth of life.
- In "Araby," the protagonist undergoes a journey of self-discovery and maturation as he
confronts the harsh realities of adulthood.
- Initially, the protagonist is driven by idealism and romantic fantasy, eagerly anticipating his
visit to the Araby bazaar as a means of fulfilling his desires and proving himself worthy of
Mangan's sister's affection.
- However, the protagonist's journey to the bazaar ends in disillusionment and disappointment
when he arrives too late and realizes the futility of his romantic pursuit.
- Through this experience, the protagonist gains insight into the limitations of his idealized
perceptions and comes to accept the harsh truth of life—that the world is not always as romantic
or fulfilling as he had imagined.
Love is not an imagination.
- "Araby" explores the theme of love as both a source of longing and disillusionment for the
protagonist.
- The protagonist's infatuation with Mangan's sister drives much of the narrative, as he imagines
her as a symbol of beauty, perfection, and romantic fulfillment.
- However, the protagonist's romantic idealism is shattered when he realizes that his feelings for
Mangan's sister were based more on fantasy than reality.

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- Through this realization, the protagonist comes to understand that love is not merely an
imagination but a complex and multifaceted emotion that involves both joy and pain, longing,
and disillusionment.
Things aren't always what they seem to be.
- Throughout "Araby," James Joyce explores the theme of disillusionment and the disparity
between appearance and reality.
- The protagonist's journey to the Araby bazaar is marked by a series of obstacles and
disappointments, as he encounters the harsh realities of life in Dublin.
- The bazaar itself serves as a symbol of the protagonist's idealized vision of love and fulfillment,
but its closure and the mundane of its offerings reveal the disparity between his romantic
fantasies and the grim reality of his surroundings.
- Through this experience, the protagonist learns that things aren't always what they seem to be—
that appearances can be deceiving, and romantic ideals may not align with the complexities of
real life.
VII. SYMBOLISM
The North Richmond Street:
- Symbolizes the protagonist's mundane and oppressive environment, characterized by its
rundown houses and dimly lit streets.
- Reflects the protagonist's sense of confinement and entrapment within his surroundings, as well
as the stagnation and decay of Irish society during the late 19th or early 20th century.
- Serves as a contrast to the protagonist's idealized visions of escape and fulfillment, highlighting
the disparity between his romantic fantasies and the grim reality of his life in Dublin.
The Araby:
- Represents the protagonist's idealized vision of love and fulfillment, as well as his desire to
escape the constraints of his everyday life.
- Symbolizes the promise of adventure, excitement, and romance, fueling the protagonist's hopes
and aspirations throughout the story.
- However, the bazaar's closure and the mundane of its offerings shatter the protagonist's
romantic illusions, revealing the harsh realities of adulthood and the limitations of his idealized
perceptions.
Brown, imperturbable faces:
- Represents the indifferent and unchanging nature of the protagonist's surroundings, as well as
the emotional detachment and resignation of the people in his community.
- Reflects the protagonist's sense of isolation and alienation within his environment, as he
grapples with the complexities of desire, disillusionment, and self-discovery.
The word “Dark”:
- Throughout the story, the word "dark" is used to describe the protagonist's surroundings,
symbolizing the bleakness and gloominess of his environment.
- Represents the protagonist's feelings of uncertainty, fear, and despair as he navigates the
complexities of adolescence and the harsh realities of adulthood.
The word “Light”:

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- In contrast to the darkness that pervades the protagonist's surroundings, the word "light"
symbolizes hope, illumination, and enlightenment.
- Represents the protagonist's desire for escape and transcendence, as well as his longing for
something beyond the confines of his everyday life.
- Serves as a metaphor for the protagonist's quest for self-discovery and enlightenment, as he
grapples with the complexities of love, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in the face of
adversity.
VIII. IRONY
1. The main character thinks the market will be something special.
 In reality, it turns out to be a noisy and unkempt country market.
- The protagonist eagerly anticipates attending the Araby bazaar, believing it will be a magical
and exotic place where he can find the perfect gift for Mangan's sister and prove himself worthy
of her affection.
- However, when the protagonist finally arrives at the bazaar, it is closing, and most of the stalls
are already shut down. Instead of the vibrant and enchanting atmosphere he had imagined, he
finds the bazaar to be a noisy and unkempt country market.
- This irony highlights the disparity between the protagonist's romantic expectations and the grim
reality of his surroundings, emphasizing the theme of disillusionment and the loss of innocence.
2. The main character imagines the girl as a symbol of love and beauty.
 In reality, she is just an ordinary girl with an ordinary life.
- Throughout the story, the protagonist idolizes Mangan's sister, seeing her as a symbol of love,
beauty, and perfection. He imagines her as a figure of purity and grace, fueling his romantic
fantasies and desires.
- However, when the protagonist finally interacts with Mangan's sister at the bazaar, he realizes
that she is just an ordinary girl with an ordinary life. She fails to live up to the idealized image he
had constructed in his mind, shattering his romantic illusions.
- This irony underscores the theme of disillusionment and the disparity between the protagonist's
romantic ideals and the harsh realities of life, highlighting the complexities of human emotion
and perception.
IX. STYLE & TONE
1. Style:
- James Joyce's style in "Araby" is characterized by its rich language, vivid imagery, and intricate
symbolism, which immerses readers in the protagonist's inner world.
- Joyce employs elegant and symbolic expressions to convey the protagonist's emotional
turmoil and existential angst. For example, he describes the protagonist's surroundings with
meticulous detail, using imagery of darkness, decay, and isolation to evoke a sense of foreboding
and despair.
- The repetition of specific words, such as "dark," "brown," and "imperturbable," serves to
emphasize the protagonist's feelings of confinement and entrapment within his environment, as
well as the monotony and drudgery of his daily life.

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- The pacing of the narrative is slow and deliberate, mirroring the protagonist's sense of
lethargy and disillusionment. Joyce's prose is heavy with symbolism and meaning, inviting
readers to contemplate the deeper layers of the story and its themes of longing, disillusionment,
and the loss of innocence.
- The author's use of a slow and heavy voice, both literal and figurative, adds to the story's
atmospheric quality and emotional resonance, drawing readers into the protagonist's inner world
and inviting them to share in his experiences.
2. Tone:
- The tone of "Araby" is characterized by melancholy and nostalgia, as the protagonist reflects on
his past experiences and grapples with feelings of longing and disillusionment.
- There is a sense of romance infused throughout the narrative, as the protagonist's infatuation
with Mangan's sister drives much of the story's emotional intensity. However, this romance is
tinged with sadness and disappointment, as the protagonist's idealized visions of love clash with
the harsh realities of his environment.
- Additionally, there are moments of sarcasm in Joyce's tone, particularly in his portrayal of the
protagonist's naive idealism and romantic fantasies. Through subtle irony and wit, Joyce exposes
the absurdity of the protagonist's beliefs and challenges readers to question their own perceptions
of love, beauty, and fulfillment.
QUESTIONS ON ARABY
1. Who is the protagonist?
2. What was the historical context of the story?
3. How is North Richmond street described metaphorically?
4. Who does he live with?
5. Who was the former tenant?
6. What games does he play with his friends in the street?
7. When does the girl begin to attract his attention?
8. What does he do to show his adoration?
9. What details in the story show his strong infatuation? What sort of love do you think the
boy has for the girl?
10. Why can’t the girl go the bazaar?
11. What does he promise to bring the girl from the bazaar?
12. Is the trip to the bazaar eager anticipated?
13. Why is the trip delayed?
14. At what time does he arrive at the bazaar?

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15. What is the bazaar like to his bitter disappointment?
16. What is the girl at the stall doing? Why is he so upset?
17. What is the conflict inside the boy?
18. From what point of view is the story told? What is the effect of that point of view on the
reader?
19. How would you express the theme of the story?
20. How does James Joyce express the theme of Epiphany?
21. Comment on the writer’s choice of imagery.
22. The dark and light are the prevailing images in the story. What are their symbolic
meanings?
23. Give some instances of irony.
24. Do you think the boy could become a completely different person after his trip to the
bazaar? Who or what is to blame for his tragedy?

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