Araby By James Joyce

Judy Garland once said, “We cast away priceless time in dreams born of imagination, fed upon illusion, and put to death by reality.” Beginning in the story of “Araby” by James Joyce, the reader is immediately introduced to an unnamed, young boy whose illusions about life feed upon his desires. His naivety about the realities of life, shyness, and growing infatuation work to secure his place as an easy prey for life's negative epiphanies and result ultimately in his frustration. Channeled through first person narrative, the story is told through the eyes of the boy (as the main character) and it is evident to see his character traits evolve throughout the story.
First, someone who is naïve can be can be defined as someone who lacks wisdom,

As a result, the narrator is reminded of Mangan's sister through every aspect of his life. He admits his thoughts are consumed by Mangan’s sister and states, "Her image accompanied me even in places the most hostile to romance. Her name sprang to my lips at moments in strange prayers and praises which I myself did not understand. My eyes were often full of tears (I could not tell why) and at times a flood from my heart seemed to pour itself out into my bosom” Here, the young boy admits that, much to his confusion, his thoughts, words, and emotions are heavily affected by her. Even when it seems inappropriate, the young boy can’t help but think about her. Also, his strong desire, for love, seems uncontainable and weighs heavy in his chest. He continues by expressing that, “I thought little of the future. 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.” Indeed, the young boy struggles with his anxiety to declare his adoration and goes on to say, “But my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires. All my senses seemed to desire to veil themselves and, feeling that I was about to slip from them, I pressed the palms of my hands together until they trembled, murmuring: ‘O love! O love!’ many times.” He notes that his infatuation dulls his senses. Next the boy states, “At last

He emphasizes this idea by stating, "When I came home to dinner my uncle had not yet been home. Still it was early. I sat staring at the clock for some time and when its ticking began to irritate me, I left the room. I mounted the staircase and gained the upper part of the house. The high cold empty gloomy rooms liberated me and I went from room to room singing.” Frustrated, at the absence of his uncle, the boy is restless. He stares at the clock and eventually finds himself pacing around the house. Furthermore, he states, “From the front window I saw my companions playing below in the street. Their cries reached me weakened and indistinct and, leaning my forehead against the cool glass, I looked over at the dark house where she lived." His only goal is to go to the Bazaar and buy something for the girl. Because this goal is important to him the boy grows impatient with his normal encounters (Mrs. Mercer) and goes as far to say, "I had to endure the gossip of the tea-table. The meal was prolonged beyond an hour and still my uncle did not come." The boy has grown even more impatient and is frustrated going as far to say he had to endure the conversation. "When she had gone I began to walk up and down the room, clenching my fists. Once his uncle arrives, the boy is clearly upset and is reluctant to acknowledge an old saying his uncle believed in: ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’” After what seemed to be an