Short Story:-Araby by James Joyce

Araby by James Joyce

Araby is a short story written by Irish novelist, short story writer, poet, teacher, and literary critic, James Joyce, between 1905 to 1907. Later on, it was published in his collection of short stories known as Dubliners in 1914.

The story takes place in the late 19th century in Dublin, on North Richmond Street. The unknown narrator lives in North Richmond Street. The street has a number of houses where religion seems to dominate the lives of the people. The narrator talks about the dead priest. The priest had some non-religious books which show that they were bothered by the religious restrictions.

Moreover, the street has a dead end and several houses along with a Christian Brother’s school, a Catholic school for boys are situated in this street. The street remains quiet, except when the schoolboys play in the street until dinner.

Further, the boys discussed in the story are all children but they are at the threshold of adulthood. They take interest in the world of adults around them. They watch the narrator’s uncle when he comes home from work, and they follow Mangan’s older sister. They are more inclined towards the opposite sex because they are eager to know more.

The sister of Mangan comes out regularly to call Mangan when it gets dark. Mangan who is a friend of the narrator usually teases her sister while the narrator keeps staring at her. The narrator begins to notice her physical characteristics. Every morning, he waits for her to leave so that he can walk behind her on the way to school.

One day, the girl finally speaks to the narrator. She asks him if he is going to Araby- an upcoming bazaar with Arabic themes.  She is unable to go; she has to attend a religious ritual on the weekend. So, the narrator promises that if he goes to the bazaar, he will find some gift for her.

The narrator gets permission from his uncle to attend the bazaar. The day finally arrives, and the boy reminds his uncle that he wishes to go to the bazaar the same night. His uncle promises him that he will come on time to give him money so that he can go to the bazaar.

However, the uncle of the narrator gets late that night. Due to which the boy gets disappointed. Finally, his uncle arrived drunk and late and tried to stop the narrator from going to the bazaar. For this, his uncle hesitates to give him coins. But ultimately he gives him some coins as his wife convinces him. The boy takes the money and heads off to the bazaar.

He arrives at the Araby market which is nearly closed, and the narrator’s idealized notions of the bazaar are abated. Most of the stalls are closed, and when he stops at the only shop opened. The girl at the shop is busy serving two young men in a flirtatious way. However, she doesn’t pay any particular attention to the narrator. 

This encounter destroys his vision of the Araby bazaar and his idealized vision of Mangan’s sister. He rethinks his romanticized ideas of love, and with shame and anger, he is left alone in the bazaar.