Harry Stone writes in his criticism “‘Araby’ and the Writings of James Joyce,” from the Antioch Review, that Joyce litters his writing "with a dense symbolism undergirding the story." His analysis of the short story "Araby" through what he calls the Symbolic Thread traces the symbols of blindness, the etymological history of the word "Araby," and the flourin. Another critic, Robert Robert's In "'Araby' and the Palpimset of Criticism" deconstructs the bicycle pump as "a symbol of the British commericial materialism which has corrupted Irish Catholicism."
If Stone and Roberts see symbols throughout the story, they must be there. What symbols do you see and what do they stand for?
I saw the symbol of blindness. The boy had a blind side if you will, that only allowed him to see the women he obssesed over. He could not see the reality of his obsession, he could not obtain his love because she was presumably a nun who was giving her life to god, not him. I believe that the symbol shows how love is blinding and at the end you're left in darkness... alone.
ReplyDeleteIn this story I saw the symbol of the contrast between light and darkness. The story begins by describing the setting of a deserted house on a dead-end street. The narrator lives in a house where a priest had died. Everything is described as very dark and gloomy. The narrator's only source of happiness comes from seeing Mangan's sister, a nun. Whenever she is being described, there is a sudden brightness added to the story. The narrator is suddenly happier and the light from her skin seems to "glow" off from her. I think that the author uses these contrasting symbols to show the affects of religion on one's mood. The nun is seen as an angel of light to brighten the narrator's life. This is why the narrator is so gloomy again at the end of the story- he has just realized that there is no chance of a relationship with the nun, and he feels that the only source of light in his life has just been extinguished.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Samantha A and Sara in the symbols of blindness and light contrasting with darkness. "Araby" is a short story in which this type of symbolism gives the whole theme of the story. I would not have any idea what the story is about if it were not for these symbols. They represent the protagonist and his insight, along with the change that occurs in him within the text. It is symbolism that helps readers like me understand what the meaning is.
ReplyDeleteI think the priest dying in the back drawing-room was a symbol. It signified that the boy's life was traced with misery and loss. Not much is know about the history of the main character. We know that he lives presently with his aunt and uncle, so I think the death of the priest in their home draws a parallel to the fate of his parents.
ReplyDeleteThe second symbol that stood out to me was the idea of blindness that Sam pointed out. Blindness, shadows, and darkness all helped to convey how the protagonist is hidden and remained invisible to the world. Mangan’s sister, the girl the protagonist obsesses over, is clueless to the fact that he likes her. The main character also seems to be overlooked by his uncle, who forgot about his desire to go to Araby until it was late that night and most of the stalls had closed up. By referring to blindness, shadows, and darkness, the author shows the irony of his MAIN character being of meek existence and unimportant to the other characters of the story.
I saw a symbol of two different religions spotted throughout the story. Right on the first page where the house and back yard are being described, there are symbols of Christianity. The bicycle pump and the central apple tree represent the Devil and the Garden of Eden. There are various other symbols or allusions to Christianity in the rest as well. Not only are there symbols of Christianity, but Islam, too. Araby, the bazaar (Arabic word), itself is a symbol. These two religions are presented as conflicting. The protagonist, being Christian, attended the bazaar and was discouraged by the people selling goods. The people selling goods represented Muslims, as the protagonist represented the Christian religion. The way he was rejected shows the never-ending conflict between the two religions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Samantha A in that I also saw the symbolic representation of blindness throughout Araby. The main character was constantly surrounded by dark and gloom--a representation of how Mangan's sister was blind to "I"'s desire for her. Mangan;s sister, on the other hand was always bathed in light--the object of affection and desire; "I" was blind to all others, until at the bazaar when he became lost in the darkness of reality. (She could not be his, after all.)
ReplyDeleteThe symbolism that I most noticed was between light and dark. In Araby light is used to describe Mangan's sister who is glowing and almost radiating light. She represents beauty and goodness in the world, but she also represents God as she is going to become a nun and give her life to him and walk in his light. But the main character is in darkness. His ignorance blinds him and he cannot see the reality in front of him. He will never be in a relationship with Mangan's sister, but will instead be alone in a world of darkness and evil without a light to guide him.
ReplyDeleteOne symbol that I see in James Jocye "Araby" is Mangan's sister representing the light. The protagonist was lost in a blind and dark world and Mangan's sister was described in numerous places as being "the light" or always being described near or in the light. An example- "She was waiting for us, her figure defined by the light from the half-opened door". Another example is when Joyce says, "...touched discreetly by the lamplight at the curved neck..."
ReplyDeleteAnother symbol is the word blind. Diction takes over the word blind and causes it to have numerous meaning, such as; not being able to see, a shade, something being hidden, and ignorance. The protagonist is a symbol of being blind for he lives on a blind street and his house rests at the blind end and he represents ignorance. The protagonist comes to a realization that he’s self-absorbed with his wishes of getting the girl he doesn’t even know. He thinks he loves the symbol, but in reality he loves her for what she represents, the light.
In the short story, Araby, I found the most prominent symbols to be the idea of blindness and darkness. The diction that James Joyce uses in order to convey his message about being blind is infinite. Few examples would be hidden, unable to see, ignorant, shades, naïve. With all blindness, there is darkness. Many words such as shadow helped to create a symbol of evil, being naïve or being in the ‘dark’ about a certain subject or matter. In this short story, there is much reason to believe that the symbols of blindness and darkness represent ignorance that soon alludes to the light.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else as Araby has contrasting symbols of light and darkness, as well as blindness. In the story light is represented and described to be Mangan’s sister. She is always describe to be glowing and surrounded by radiating light. The way she is described reminds me of an angel which is true as she is going to become a nun. While in contrast the main character is lost in the darkness. He likes Mangan’s sister but will never be able to have a relationship with her and is now trapped alone in a world of darkness. The main character is blind to his path because he cannot see the reality that it will never work out between them, yet he is unable to move on. I believe that these symbols are the most prominent throughout the short story of Araby.
ReplyDeleteOne evident theme found in this novel is light vs. dark. The characters who are held in a bright light, are the ones who are protagonists in the story. Those who are portrayed in a darker light are the antagonists.
ReplyDeleteAs stated by many posers before I, Mangan's sister was held in a bright light when described by the narrator. On the other hand, then main character was always held in the opposite light. Two ends of the spectrum that the author uses as symbols, that adds to the overall theme of the story.