James Joyce Araby Eveline Essay Example

silver bracelet around her wrist’ and how ‘the light from the lamp opposite the door caught the white curve of her neck and her hair. ’ We are then told of Mrs Mercer, 'a garrulous old woman. ' This reveals a sharp contrast to the beautiful girl and appears to make her beauty even more intense to the boy.

The boy acts on impulse when he is talking to his love and offers to bring her something back from Araby and in his mind, this promise to her has become a token or symbol of his love for her. In his imagination, Araby is an exotic land filled with mystery and excitement and ‘the symbols of the word Araby were called to me through the silence in which my soul luxuriated and cast Eastern enchantment over me. However, after this point, Joyce begins to portray a darker side to the story and we are told of the boy's frustration when his uncle is late. We are told of how ‘the boy did not smile when his uncle apologizes for being late.

Eventually however, the boy sets off for Araby feeling intense anticipation. Joyce describes the train journey as being ‘slow moving’ and ‘creeping’ creating an ominous sense of frustration. When the boy arrives at his destination Joyce uses the word ‘magical’ to convey a sense of excitement and thrill. The darker side of Joyce's writing becomes apparent again in his description of Araby itself. The boy is left slightly bewildered and wondering why he had come to Araby as the silence is compared to ‘like that which pervades a church after the service. All magic seems to

have vanished. We are told that 'nearly all the stalls were closed and the greater half of the hall was in complete darkness. ' This suggests disappointment. As the girl is associated with light and happiness we can see that darkness will have the opposite effect on the boy.

He tries with difficulty to remember why he had come as he realizes that Araby is full of disappointment and that it is not the escape that he had hoped for. Finally, the story ends with an anti-climax, the boy realizing ‘his stay was useless. We know of how the boy has been portrayed by Joyce as being ‘let down,’ by the true nature of Araby. His exotic dream proves to be nothing more than a fantasy and Araby did not provide the fulfillment he was looking for. Joyce ends the story with a sentence reflecting the boy's pain, ‘My eyes burned with anguish and anger. ’ And it reveals a painful awakening to life’s realities. Joyce was a writer of many stories and another of which he had written includes that of ‘Eveline’ a story written to portray an unfulfilled life.

This story begins in a similar setting as Araby with, once again a life that is ‘gloomy’ and ‘trapped. ’ The opening line is a strong one, ‘she sat at the window watching the evening invade the avenue. ’ I am given the impression of the search for something better within her life. The word ‘invade’ gives the impression that the lady we see does not want the evening to come, Joyce perhaps cleverly hinting at something she dreads. The writer tells us how she observes

the life outside her window, signifying a sense of imprisonment and wistfulness.

We are shown the reality of what the woman is reflecting on about her past, through the sentence ‘they all seemed to be rather happy then. ’ We are given the impression that in the past this woman was a happier one and more content. However, the line ‘everything changes’ suggests she has been plunged from her happiness into a darker and more hostile world. The following sentence, ‘she was going to go away like the others, to leave her home. ’ Reveals to be the beginning of the woman’s story and the dread she faces as she leaves her comfort.

We are told of how she looks around her room, in case she never sees her things again. This shows her awareness of time, and the lack of it she may have with her precious things. I believe Joyce is portraying sympathy towards his character. Frank represents a new and exciting lifestyle to Eveline. We are told how she is to 'explore' a new life with Frank which is something both exciting and frightening for Eveline. He is described as 'kind, manly and open-hearted. ,' someone who can offer Eveline means of escapism.

However, it soon becomes apparent that Eveline is torn between her family and her love Frank, someone who can offer her a new life full of hope. Her excitement and love for frank are shown when Franks purchase the seats that are not the back row of the theatre. Frank is perhaps her method of escapism and excitement, something of which she hasn’t had since taking on the role of the mother.

Joyce, I believe, is not trying to imply that Eveline is in love with Frank, but that she is greatly excited by him.

She is feeling that the situation is exciting and spontaneous. Frank is urging Eveline desperately to go to the station, but he wavers in her decision. When she does decide on leaving with Frank we are told of her 'sudden impulse of terror. ' The word 'terror' reveals her inner emotional turmoil. Joyce tells of how Eveline 'wanted to live' and we are again shown the appeal of Frank. We can see that she feels guilty in her actions and tries to justify her leaving,' why should she be unhappy? ' This reveals Eveline's inner insecurity. She frantically reassures herself, 'Frank would take her in his arms, fold her in his arms. He would save her. ' Joyce gradually prepares the reader for his character's disappointment.

The description of the boat is ‘a black mass,’ which gives it a dreading and ominous feeling. It also blows ‘ a long mournful whistle into the mist. ’ This suggests both that the story will have a sad ending and the use of the mist image conveys her confusion. Joyce is able to capture Evelyn’s confusion in his writing, describing how ‘all the seas of the world tumbled about her heart. ’ Instead of Frank saving her she feels he would drown her. The final image of Eveline is a clever one, associating her with paralysis. Joyce’s description of her compares her to a ‘helpless animal’.