An Introspective Case Into James Joyce’s Araby Essay Example

be seen as a personal reference by Joyce himself. The name of the boy, chosen by Joyce to remain anonymous, suggests that he is struggling with the community he lives in, just as Joyce once did. This struggle may be more psychological in nature, as the boy feels trapped among various characters he encounters in his daily routine: his teachers, drunken men, bargaining women and market boys, and the English-speaking girl at the bazaar. All these characters contribute to his negative perception of the community. When asking for permission to go to the bazaar, the boy's aunt hopes it is not related to Freemasonry.Masons are members of an underground brotherhood that were believed to be the complete opposite of the church's ideals (Griffin). In school, the male child states, "I watched my Masterss face base on balls from good humor to sternness," showing the strict and forceful education provided in Dublin (Joyce Pg 330). This can be seen as a reflection of the various enemies Joyce faced during his time in Ireland. For example, Joyce was once a little drunk and got into a fight at a bar in St. Leslie Stephens Green (Ellman 162). Additionally, while living with Oliver Gogarty, he was violently threatened with a gun (Ellman 175). These are just a few examples of the harsh experiences Joyce endured in Dublin. On the other hand, in Araby, one character seems to contrast these emotions. The narrator becomes fascinated by an older and mysteriously cryptic girl, who happens to be the sister of a close friend named Mangan. The young boy describes his firsthand experience with her: "Every morning I lay on the

floor in the front parlor watching her door...I had never spoken to her...and yet her name was like an invitation to all my foolish blood" (Joyce Pg. 329). It appears that the narrator is emotionally consumed by an obsession, as evidenced by his use of the term "foolish."The narrator openly admits to the eventual decision to go to Araby when he realizes his attempt at befriending was unsuccessful. However, what sparks his involvement in this specific mission is of great admiration. More importantly, the reason behind Joyce's use of romantic symbolism is under scrutiny. He uses the romantic elements to figuratively represent the narrator's inner struggle with society. Several hints in the opening paragraphs reveal the narrator's feelings, such as the quotation "The blind was pulled down to within an inch of the sash so that I could not be seen" (Joyce Pg.329). This line suggests that as a child, his indifference towards Catholic culture may have been hidden. The phrase "If I spoke to her, how I could tell her of my baffled adoration" may indicate his confused emotions regarding the instability he experienced in Ireland (Joyce Pg 329). He aims to depict a story of youthful ignorance and naivety rather than a story of deep respect. This plot serves as a theme that reflects Joyce's own conclusion about Ireland; as a child, he could not fully embrace his creative nature as a literary artist in such a practical culture. It may have lacked the necessary hunger, stimulation, and curiosity that he desperately desired. In "The Years of Blooming: James Joyce".John McCourt discusses how Joyce had a highly captivating early relationship with the Irish

Roman Catholic Church ( Mc Court ). He also mentions that Joyce had an alter ego named Stephen Dedalus, which serves to illustrate his internal struggle with faith and the community. This inner conflict is reflected through Stephen's confusion and indifference as portrayed in his alter ego, similar to the naive journey of the young narrator in Araby. As the story progresses, we discover that the young boy is infatuated with a girl who turns out to be engaged to a convent. Despite this important revelation, the boy chooses to ignore it and continues his obsession, focusing instead on attending the bazaar. This fixation reveals that the underlying theme of the story is not romance but rather self-centeredness. As one critic explains, the outcome demonstrates a life in which joyless children play on dreary streets, girls cannot go to bazaars due to convent duties, elderly women collect used relics for religious purposes, aunts mark time based on religious events, and even intoxicated uncles succumb to moralizing.After going through a series of events that make the storyteller doubt himself and lose hope in winning over Mangan's sister, he feels disillusioned. Coulthard suggests that most people overlook faith as a factor in his disillusionment and focus instead on the word "anguish" in the narrator's vivid recollection of his disappointing childhood experience. The boy describes himself as feeling like a creature mocked and insulted by his own pride, and his eyes burn with anguish and anger. This shows that the boy has not overcome his feelings, but has, to some extent, matured. It is said that Joyce traveled back and forth between Ireland, Trieste, Rome, London, and finally

Zurich, never to return to Ireland again. The narrator's changing perspective throughout the story reflects Joyce's contrasting alter ego and uncertain view of Irish-Roman Catholic culture, as depicted in his travels. This complex psychology of innocence versus wisdom, portrayed through the narrator's emotional transformation, seems to capture a part of Joyce that can be seen in his mixed feelings towards his homeland and the adversities he faced throughout his life.The narrator's feelings towards the community become more defined after his remark about a particular book discovered in the back drawing room. This discovery is one of the most significant points in the narrative. The narrator finds three books, with the first two discussing spiritual tolerance. "The Abbot" and "The Devout Communicator" express extremely devout beliefs and strict adherence to religious law. These themes have been known to challenge Joyce. An abbot is the leader of a group of monks, while being devout means being completely devoted to a pious belief. The last book, however, captures the boy's interest because of its yellow leaves. This book, "The Memoirs of Vidocq," holds great significance for Joyce and ties into the theme of Araby. As Coulthard points out, this autobiography of a French police officer would provide an escape from the Catholic themes present in the story. Eugene Francois Vidocq was a mischievous man from the 18th century who often clashed with his parents.The mention of Vidocq in Araby by Joyce carries more significance than noted. Vidocq can also be compared to feelings of rebellion, as he ran away from home due to treacherous acts towards his own father. "In the company of a young woman he ran

off with, he traveled to various French havens seeking passage to the 'New World'" (Fleisher). The boy in the story describes the book as "yellow," showing a connection to Vidocq and a sense of resentment and melancholy towards his own family and culture. Additionally, in a biographical background of Joyce in "The Norton Introduction to Literature," it is revealed that Joyce "eloped" with a young woman Nora, similar to Vidocq's exile journey (Hunter Pg.391) (Fleisher). This self-reflection by the writer highlights the incorporation of his own experiences into this piece of literature. Throughout the narrative, Joyce continues to merge his own experiences living throughout Europe. After graduating from the local University, Joyce quickly fled to Paris as a young adventurous man (Ellman) (Hunter Pg.91). Paris has always been known as an artistic and open-minded hub of creativity (Walz).Descriptions of Paris in the early twentieth century may evoke a stark contrast to the scene portrayed symbolically in Araby. In the story, Joyce depicts the protagonist's journey to the Bazaar, stating, "I strode down Buckingham street toward the station... I took my place in a third-class passenger car of an abandoned train." He further describes the slow pace of the train as "intolerable delay." This serves as a striking juxtaposition to the well-known metro system of Paris during that time. It is evident that Joyce's comparison of Paris to his native Irish ascetic culture greatly influenced his work.

Referring to the popular surrealist culture that emerged in twentieth century Paris, one critic explains, "In addition to its better-known literary and artistic origins, the French surrealist movement drew inspiration from currents of psychological anxiety and rebellion present in a

darker side of mass culture, particularly in fantastic popular fiction and scandalous journalism" (Walz). Surrealism was a movement embraced by writers and artists who used fantastic imagery to represent unconscious thoughts and dreams, much like the symbolism employed by Joyce in Araby. Moreover, this "psychological anxiety and rebellion" mirrors the underlying emotions felt by the narrator throughout his journey towards reality. Although Joyce himself was not considered a true surrealist, these elements undoubtedly influenced his work.Many of the literary techniques used in Joyce's work "Ulysses" can also be observed in "Araby", although in a more figurative sense. The narrator's struggle with desire and self-reflection is evident in the line "I had barely any forbearance with the serious work of life which, now that it stood between me and my desire..." This emotional experience shared by the narrator may also reflect Joyce's own journey as a young scholar traveling through Paris and Europe. By narrating the story from a first-person perspective, Joyce's views on life and religion become more metaphorical. In his article "James Joyce's Concept of the Underthought," Michael Harding explores how Joyce incorporates experiential thought into his works, influenced by philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein's ideas on logic and ethics. According to Robert C. Solomon, existential philosophy involves a state of disorientation or confusion, breaking free from conditioned perspectives and allowing for non-conditioned thinking.The idea of "freedom" mentioned in the line "when the Christian Brothers' School set the male childs free" encapsulates the essence of what the narrator in Araby desires. This line represents Joyce's thoughts on faith and how it interferes with his existential philosophy. Thus, Joyce includes a subtle spiritual context in the narrative

to portray a knowledgeable individual. Coulthard illustrates how the entire story reveals a form of conditioning that Joyce spent many years deflecting from external influences. This forms the basis of the theme of escape, which is directly connected to Joyce's contemplation of various philosophies across different European countries. The thematic elements, characters, and settings in the fictional story of Araby hold a significance beyond mere fiction in Joyce's own life. Each line, phrase, and reference carries a metaphorical meaning that reflects his struggles through his tumultuous and unbalanced adulthood in Dublin. Constantly torn between accepting the Irish Roman Catholic religion and always yearning for something more, Joyce uses the narrator of Araby to reflect on his own experiences and uses this tale as his personal means of escape. He may have seen himself as a dreamer who felt restricted and limited in his childhood endeavors.Joyce skillfully incorporates his personal beliefs on faith and life into his fiction, from depicting a "dark" community to conveying an initial sense of optimism and later self-deception. He intertwines a romantic and philosophical context, all while offering a hidden plan to surpass his own emotions.