Unable to Permanently Escape Reality in Paul´s Case by Willa Carter and Araby by James Joyce

In the short stories, “Paul’s Case” by Willa Carter and “Araby” by James Joyce, both the protagonists are infatuated with the idea of escaping the conventional routines in their daily lives. Their main goal is to obtain a more romantic, extravagant, glamourized life. For Paul, his dream of a glamorized life lies in distant New York. For the unnamed protagonist in “Araby”, he hopes to find his in Araby with the neighbor girl who he barely knows. They believe that by achieving this escape, they’ll find the pleasure and satisfaction they’ve been hoping for. Both the protagonists dream to find a romance in a world hostile to romance by escaping the reality that they live in.

Paul in “Paul’s Case” wanted to get away from the reality and the hostile environment he faced. He was sick of Pittsburgh and the middle-class, Cordelia Street, which he lived on. Although his mother past away, his home life was as normal as could be. This is something Paul hated, normality. At school he would tell other students false stories to try to make his life seem more interesting than theirs. This ultimately caused none of the other students like him, even the teachers lash out at him. Paul was suspended from school, but he didn’t mind. He found an interest in music and in art, although he knew his father would not approve. Paul’s father wanted him to be a business man, have a normal family and have an ordinary life. Although, having a normal, ordinary life was not what Paul had in mind for his future. He dreamt of much more which caused him to believe he would never get his father’s approval.

When Paul’s boss asked him to deposit money for him, Paul took advantage of this opportunity. Instead of depositing all the money, Paul only deposited the chec...

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...ly he went home, back to his hostile environment, never escaping reality. Paul refused to give up on his dream and refused to go back to reality. Instead of giving up his dream on a glamorized, extravagant life, Paul gave up on his average life and killed himself.

Both Paul from “Paul’s Case” and the unnamed boy in “Araby” were searching for a permanent escape from the reality that they lived in. They each longed for a life filled with glamor, romance, and luxuries. Most importantly, they craved a life far from ordinary. Both protagonists failed to achieve this life style. The way that they dealt with their failure is the main thing that separates them. The main concept that ties both these incredible short stories together is that neither of them was able to achieve their dream. They wanted a permanent escape, which neither of them was capable of accomplishing.