“Is It Love?”

In James Joyce’s “Araby”, a pre-teen boy is infatuated with the sister of a friend. Throughout the story the boy idolizes the young woman, and never sees her faults. He somewhat sees her in a goddess-like status. He is “blinded” by lust for her. Although he may be attracted to her, she isn’t attracted to him. Eventually he realizes that her beauty isn’t her love.
It appears this boy has a big imagination. This is very predictable for a boy his age. He imagines he “bore [his] chalice safely through a throng of foes” (863). He is imaging that he is important. This suggests an aim to show he is good enough to be with her. He seems to want the feeling of being adequate for her. This shows he places her on a higher level than anyone else.
Sally Crane states that the woman was flirtatious. Crane writes, “She flirtatious plays with the bracelet, as if she were inviting him…” (Crane 2). I interpret the playing of the bracelet as a sign of boredom or shyness. Sh...