Love and Loss of Innocence of a Young Boy

Love and Loss of Innocence of a Young Boy

  • Submitted By: vannika
  • Date Submitted: 11/28/2011 3:02 PM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 1026
  • Page: 5
  • Views: 2

Paper 1: “Araby”
In James Joyce’s story “Araby” the structure is broken into three scenes within the young boy’s life starting with the scene on North Richmond Street, then the adoration of Mangan’s sister, and by the scene at “Araby.” Throughout the story the young boy is on the edge where childhood ends and adolescence begins, but it is not until the end of the story that he leaves his childhood for good. The overall theme within the structure of the story is the love and loss of innocence by the young boy. Since the story is told in first-person narrative, you are immediately immersed in his feelings and realizations.
First the scene that begins on North Richmond Street, which is sort a gloomy and quiet street, but comes alive when the children are at play. This shows despite the circumstances that surround him that he is able to still maintain a childlike view of the world. However, this scene is also the beginning of his feelings for Mangan’s sister. This becomes evident where it says, “She was waiting for us, her figure defined by the light from the half-opened door…Her dress swung as she moved her body and the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side” (678). He seems to be infatuated by her presence at this very moment and develops a crush.
The scene of North Richmond Street spills over into the next scene of the adoration of Mangan’s sister, which he further discusses his infatuation with her. Within this scene he begins to lose his childlike view of the world. He instead begins to indulge in thoughts of her and his yearning to speak with her about his feelings. He sort of battles himself within on whether or not he will ever speak with her. This is evident where it says, “I did not know whether I would ever speak to her or not or, if I spoke to her, how I could tell her of my confused adoration. But my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires” (679). He tries to make since of his feelings, but he...

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