James Joyce’s “Araby” and Rivka Galchen’s “Wild Berry Blue” are distinctly parallel due to Joyce’s and Galchen’s use of their respective protagonist’s folly and epiphany to depict the transformation from innocence to knowledge. In contrast, John Updike utilizes these same elements to illustrate society’s confining nature and the effects of nonconformity. The authors reveal the folly of their respective protagonist through the protagonists’ infatuation or obsession with a person that cannot reciprocate the same feelings. The protagonists of “Araby” and “Wild Berry Blue” expose their folly as they foster obsessions with older, more experienced people. In contrast, Sammy, the protagonist in “A&P,” displays his folly as he infatuates three upper
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The protagonist in “Araby” displays his folly as he travels to the bazaar with aims of purchasing a gift for Mangan’s sister in belief that this gift will propel her to love him. For example, the protagonist narrates, “She asked me was I going to Araby . . . She said she would love to go . . . If I [protagonist] go I will bring you something.” (124) The protagonist displays his innocence as he believes going to the bazaar and buying a present for Mangan’s sister will make him her hero, so she will then love him. Galchen’s story correlates to “Araby” as her female protagonist illuminates her immaturity by buying a wooden puppet for Roy with confidence that she will win his love. For example, the protagonist states, “He says to me: ‘I love those puppets they sell there—those real plain wood ones’ ” (133). The protagonist depicts her folly as she then “never wanted anything [the puppet] this much in [her] whole life” (136) because she believes this puppet will push Roy to love her at the same extent that she loves him. Sammy’s heroic act contrasts from the protagonists’ actions in “Araby” and “Wild Berry Blue” as his criticism of his manager and his decision to quit demonstrate his attempt to live up to his own principles. For instance, Updike writes, “I say ‘I quit’ to Lengel enough for them to hear, hoping they’ll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero” (93). Sammy’s heroic act depicts his innocence and folly as he has confidence that quitting his job will make the girls idealize and obsess over him. The short stories relate as their respective protagonists perform heroic acts in order to make the persons they love or idealize return their same
The protagonist in “Araby” displays his folly as he travels to the bazaar with aims of purchasing a gift for Mangan’s sister in belief that this gift will propel her to love him. For example, the protagonist narrates, “She asked me was I going to Araby . . . She said she would love to go . . . If I [protagonist] go I will bring you something.” (124) The protagonist displays his innocence as he believes going to the bazaar and buying a present for Mangan’s sister will make him her hero, so she will then love him. Galchen’s story correlates to “Araby” as her female protagonist illuminates her immaturity by buying a wooden puppet for Roy with confidence that she will win his love. For example, the protagonist states, “He says to me: ‘I love those puppets they sell there—those real plain wood ones’ ” (133). The protagonist depicts her folly as she then “never wanted anything [the puppet] this much in [her] whole life” (136) because she believes this puppet will push Roy to love her at the same extent that she loves him. Sammy’s heroic act contrasts from the protagonists’ actions in “Araby” and “Wild Berry Blue” as his criticism of his manager and his decision to quit demonstrate his attempt to live up to his own principles. For instance, Updike writes, “I say ‘I quit’ to Lengel enough for them to hear, hoping they’ll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero” (93). Sammy’s heroic act depicts his innocence and folly as he has confidence that quitting his job will make the girls idealize and obsess over him. The short stories relate as their respective protagonists perform heroic acts in order to make the persons they love or idealize return their same