Araby by James Joyce

1351 Words3 Pages

Araby

"Anyone still capable of wondering aloud whether the last word on Joyce has not already been published

demonstrates an ignorance of the scope of the problem comparable to assuming that the Model T Ford is the last

word in locomotive possibilities" (Benstock 1). This quote of Bernard Benstock serves as evidence to the

complexity and the brilliance of James Joyce's works. In fact, some would say that his works were too brilliant

and complex, as it took ten years for his collection of short stories, Dubliners, to be published because his

publishing company refused to print it. As one critic said, "It is difficult to speak of Dubliners because these are

realistic short stories…" (Jaloux 69). These stories first met resistance, but then were acclaimed as "genius" and

"clear hard prose." One story, Araby, was singled out by two renowned critics as the best of the collection

(Atherton 39). Joyce was notorious for using common themes in his stories and leaving them for the reader to

find and interpret. The dream of escape by the lead character, a partial foundation upon real life, and frustration

are all prevailing themes in Araby. Of all the themes employed by Joyce in Araby, none were so basic to the

story's meaning as the dream of escape (Atherton 13). This theme not only appears in his short stories, but in his

major works as well. In Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, the leading character's name is a suggestion of

escape, with Dedalus, of course, referring to the ancient Greek inventor who fashioned wings from wax and flew

away. This theme is considered to be the most important of the story because escaping from the mundane reality

he lives in is the whole premise behind the boy's visit to the Araby circus. None of the events that transpired in

the telling of this story would have occurred had it not been for the boy's drive to escape his surroundings, even if

it were only for one night. Although there has been no argument about the dream of escape, many disagreements

have risen over what causes this dream. The seemingly oppressive nature of his surroundings and the constant

feeling of being trapped are certainly motivations for the boy to dream of escape. In the story, he lives in a house

more or less devoid of love. Both the boy and his aunt fear the uncle, and Joyce implies that he drinks heavily

and the boy knows it. The house is somewhat bare, because they cannot afford to furnish it, and behind the

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