araby

araby
Araby Essay

Children are dreamers; their imaginations allow them to play out fantasies in their minds. Unfortunately, with maturation of an individual, the whimsy of youth is crushed by the contrasting realities of the world. James Joyce's story "Araby" focuses on this paradox between fantasy and reality.
The boy in the story lived in a Dublin, a place plagued by bitter reality. Portions of the city are described as blind musty, dark, and muddy. Despite the air of stagnancy, the children played and enjoyed themselves. "The cold air stung us [the children] and we played till our bodies glowed" (Joyce 84...