Araby Symbolism Analysis

What does Araby symbolize or represents to the narrator?
Araby represents realization and lust. The narrator's thoughts in the story was focused on Mangan's sister. He would watch this girl from afar. He would lay on the floor in his front parlour and watch the girl to see when she leaves her house. The narrator never really communicated with her. The time they did talk was short. Although he doesn't personally know her “her image accompanied me in places the most hostile to romance” by this he means he doesn't really think of her romantically but he is attracted to her sexually. He was nervous to speak to her and thought if he did he wouldn't know how to bring up his feelings for the girl. After having a conversation with her he mentioned that his strong desire for her made him do many foolish things to him that evening. Then when he got to the bazaar that's when the realization kicked in. He expected more to happened that night but when it didn't he realized his stay was useless and slowly left. Realizing his thoughts were just in his head causing him to feel angry …show more content…
Joyce shows how the setting has influenced the boy. The setting shows that he is influenced by religion. With his religious family he becomes confused when the thoughts of this girl go through his head. It showed how it caused him to become confused on how to deal with his emotions. When Mangan's sister confronts him he gets excited and his illusion becomes stronger. That changes when he gets to the bazaar and, he overhears two teenagers having a conversation. The way they talked/flirt makes him realize how he doesn't have that kind of connection with Mangan's sister and,that the feelings are not mutual. This causes him to change his perspective of romance. Overall joyce wanted to write from a view that showed how people's ideas of romance are wrong,