Literary Criticism - Araby

ARABY ANALYSIS
by JAMES JOYCE

The short story, Araby, was written by an Irish James Joyce. Readers can sense that the piece was a reflection of the author’s life. It was a story that serves as a mirror of the Ireland society. It has consistently presented the harsh realities during that period. The author further emphasized the dark muddy lanes where night falls early, the blind street, the dead end, dark halls, dark garden, charitable life and where playing hasn’t exactly brought pleasure and freedom.

Dissecting History, readers can apparently see the culture of United Kingdom partly assimilated and depicted in the story. This was especially shown when the narrator became awe struck by the English-speaking attendant at the bazaar. Scenarios like this, implicitly shows the superiority complex of England over Dublin, the capital of Ireland.

The area where the narrator leaves draws a picture of a lonely, stagnant and joyless home. The boy’s home and his sum enough money implies poverty. In general, the story through the author’s creative description is chiefly rich in imagery

However, this gloomy environment was concealed over the narrator’s infatuation towards a girl. The narrator detached himself from the harsh and gloomy realities of his environment by the unfolding light and hope stemming from that girl.

I can sense a slight similarity of this piece to that of Kafka. These literatures tend to preserve confidentiality and promote the style of a writing that leaves characters nameless. A style which often leaves readers pay more attention to the piece or else be get confused.

The nameless narrator gave us a picture of a boy beginning to abandon boyhood in exchange for adolescence. At the end of the story, it seems like that boy was awakened to the harsh realities. It suggested that society is ruled by money and materialism.

The narrator who happened to be mystified and obsessed towards a girl faded as quickly as the lights have been shut. His lack of guidance about topics ranging from love up to the mere realities made him fall disappointed.

The last line, “Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven
and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger” perhaps gave us a general insight of how the narrator felt. It can also be a reflective association of the narrator’s feelings towards United Kingdom.