Essay on Realizing Mistakes in James Joyces Araby

Many times in life, people set unrealistic expectations for themselves or for other people. This is not a very wise thing to do because people often feel disappointed and embarrassed for getting their hopes up so high. One good example of this is the narrator in the short story, Araby, by James Joyce. In the story Araby, a young man develops an infatuation with his friend, Magan’s, sister. Because his infatuation is so strong, he fears he will be unable to express his feelings to her, so when she mentions she cannot go to the local bazaar she has wanted to attend, he seizes this as a perfect opportunity and volunteers to buy her a gift. In the characters mind, giving Magan’s sister a gift will help him earn her attention and maybe in the†¦show more content†¦She is almost always present in his thoughts. He states, â€Å"At night in my bed room and by day in the classroom her image came between me and the page I strove to read† (125). The character usuall y begins his day with glimpses of Magan’s sister from across the street. Even though the narrator routinely thinks of her, their first conversation was their encounter about the bazaar. Thinking that buying her a gift would make her notice him is very unrealistic since he rarely talks to her. To volunteer to buy her a gift is an impulsive thought, but it is sincere because it is an attempt to win her attention. He thinks buying a gift would also help him express his feeling toward her. He says,† I did not know whether I would ever speak to her or not or, if I spoke to her, how I could tell her of my confused adoration† (125). As the story progresses, the character learns that buying Magan’s sister a gift probably won’t change his relationship with her. When the anticipated day of the bazaar comes, the character’s dad forgets to give him money causing him to arrive late. His high hopes are shot down when, to his disappointment, most of the shops are closed. Wandering aimlessly around the bazaar, the narrator sees a salesgirl playfully flirting with two boys. Watching the salesgirls, he sees that love or affection is just a game to her; he considers if Magan’s sister may be like that. If so, he has notShow MoreRelatedothello Essay956 Words   |  4 Pages The Theme of Quest Explored in â€Å"Araby† and Atonement In James Joyce’s â€Å"Araby and Ian McEwan’s Atonement both authors express that that the characters mature and grow through quests. In Joyce’s â€Å"Araby† the boy goes on a quest to the bazaar to meet Managan’s sisters whom he is very interested in. However, because he is a young boy and does not leave his much, and has no source of income there are limitations on his freedom, which ultimately affect his quest. In McEwan’s Atonement Briony goesRead MoreAnalysis Of James Joyces The Dead And Araby1651 Words   |  7 Pagesboy encounter. Jame Joyce’s works portray his characters to display both inner struggles and difficulty being socially accepted. During the party, Gabriel is anxious and nervous because he wants to uphold this reputation of a confident man. Therefore, he creates a script allowing him to have a sense control and comfort which he lacks. In Contrast, the little boy perceives himself to be self-assured and sociable w hen in reality these ideas are inflicted by his imagination. James Joyce’s â€Å"The Dead† andRead MoreEssay on Male and Female Paralysis in James Joyces Dubliners3585 Words   |  15 PagesMale and Female Paralysis in Dubliners Critics widely recognized that each story within James Joyce’s Dubliners contains a theme of paralysis. In fact, Joyce himself wrote, â€Å"My intention was to write a chapter of the moral history of my country and I chose Dublin for the scene because that city seemed to me the centre of paralysis† (Joyce, letter to Grant Richards, 5 May 1906). Contained in this moral history called Dubliners are twelve stories that deal with the paralysis of a central male