“Araby” by James Joyce Essay

November 16, 2020 by Essay Writer

Updated: Jun 18th, 2019

The story is based on North Richmond Street. This Street is used metaphorically to give readers an overview about the writer’s world. The writer lives with his uncle in the city. The setting of the house in which he lives is an old building which was formally inhabited by a late priest .It is surrounded with newspaper litter. He complains that it was always cold to stay indoors and more often he would join other children outside and play till darkness fell.

Mangan’s sister would come out to call his brother and rays of light from inside the house would light their way. The writer claims that the girl had a good and admirable figure and that even his brother would tease her. Her brown figure had attracted him and he would stare at her as long as she was not watching.

According to the story, it was common for the writer’s aunt to go to the market on Saturday’s and every time he accompanied her. After repeatedly seeing the girl, the writer says that he felt love for her and always wanted to talk to her although it proved difficult for him.

The writer is talking about love and how it springs forth on someone’s heart. The description of the city shows that there was romance all over and even the cold in the city could not hold the love for her back. The writer effectively delivers love message by use of various styles. Firstly, the story is developed in a cold setting. This is drawn from the explanation, “…When the short days of winter came, dusk fell before we had well eaten our dinners.

When we met in the street the houses had grown somber.…..” (Joyce para. 3). He continues to say, “……….Her image accompanied me even in places most hostile to romance…….It was a dark rainy evening and there was no sound in the house. Through one of the broken panes I heard the rain impinge upon the earth, the fine incessant needles of water playing in the sodden beds…… Murmuring: ‘O love! O love!‘ many times” (Joyce para.5-6). This shows his love feelings were flared by the romantic setting in the house.

The writer puts it clear that the noises in the street made him think about his love girl, “…. noises converged in a single sensation of life for me: I imagined that I bore my chalice safely through a throng of foes”. The sky was violet, an indicator of love. According to the author, “the nasal chanting of street-singers, who sang a come-all-you about O’Donovan Rossa, or …..” proved love music upon the writer’s ears (Joyce para.5).

From the above excerpts, it is clear that the message was effectively delivered to the readers. In this story, the writer also engages the reader’s mind by letting them get love meaning in certain incidents. The story ends on a sad note showing that all the writer’s efforts to get his love bird were in vain.

Contrary to this, the writer ought to have had some success or a turning point if all his efforts failed. The writer was also successful in developing the story with suspension to make his readers continue reading to the very end. He keeps to himself the idea of whether he managed convincing or explains his feelings of love to the girl. This is an effective writing style that the writer fully utilizes.

Works Cited

Joyce, James. Araby.2010. Web.




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