Theme Of Hindrance In Araby

Throughout “Araby” the boy experiences obstacles that most people would doubt while attempting to go to the bazaar to buy Mangan’s sister a gift. These hindrances should have caused the boy to question his quest, but instead of doubting himself, and his adoration towards Mangan’s sister, he perseveres through his quest single-mindedly. In “Araby”, James Joyce reveals the ignorance of the boy through his journey to the bazaar by demonstrating his unwillingness to doubt his quest and his adoration for Mangan’s sister. The boy’s uncle arrives home late the night of the bazaar denotes the non-importance of this event for him, and that the bazaar should not become the ultimate event for the boy. His uncle’s tardiness and blasé attitude should …show more content…
The author states, “Nearly all of the stalls were closed and the greater part of the hall was in darkness” (Joyce 765) to symbolize the darkness of the bazaar to the sad feelings he is beginning to feel towards himself and Mangan’s sister. The darkness also later symbolizes the boy’s vision of love changing from joy and pleasure into confusing and frustration. James Joyce also uses irony for the name of the only shop open, ‘Café Chantant’, to show that the boy should have a splendid time at the shop, like the title would indicate, but ultimately gets let down. When the boy goes over to the only open stall, he expects an amazing gift to present itself to him, but only finds simple vases and tea-sets, this revealing to the boy that there was never any vanity that would have impressed Mangan’s sister enough to win her over. When the young boy finally has his epiphany of adulthood and Mangan’s sister, his incognizance sheds away and he realizes he could not have won her over with simple vanity. When he finally becomes insightful, he realizes that crossing the threshold into adulthood was realizing that adulthood is not childhood promise or adoration, but