Literary Analysis Of ‘Araby’ By James Joyce
Stories are more then just words. They give us a glimpse into the past. James Joyce’s “Araby,” a story about the 19th century, transports us back to Dublin. Using the coming-of-age story of an adolescent boy as a guide, the story tells how Dublin looked at Orient in the 19th century to identify its identity. Joyce does make no explicit statements about Irish Orientalism, but Joyce uses Eastern dictions, references to Araby bazaars, and other orientalist metaphorical pictureries to reveal a lot more about 19th century Dublin.
Many Irish nationalists sought a way out of the English colonialism clutches as the 19th century was coming to an end. To create a new identity, and break the ties with colonizers, they used Orientalism. That is what Araby uses most to establish it. The notion of story is centrally represented by the use terms Araby, bazaar and diction. To romanticize riches and wealth, the term Araby can be used. Joyce refers this exotic feeling to Eastern enchantment. According to the Mangan sister, the place is called a “Splendid”. It is a place where everything is good and happy. This contrasts sharply with the grim darkness that has enveloped the streets of Dublin. The Araby Bazaar concept was inspired by the Grand Oriental Fete charity bazaar. This bazaar, which was a travelling market, was a fantasyland of Irish nationalists who were enchanted by the Orient. It was a popular source of entertainment. This whole concept was so Orientalism-rooted. This is evident in the treatment of women at these bazaars. These bazaars had the worst feature: they demonized working women and made them into merchandise to be sold to buyers. The author suggests that the women who went to the bazaar with boys were actually flirting with two men. So, the author exposes the dark side Irish Orientalism. Mangan’s parents refuse to allow Mangan to attend this ‘depraved Araby bazaar’. The attempt at associating inhumane treatment of women with Eastern things is Orientalism at its most pure form.
Araby Bazaar, at first, is romanticized as a place where dreams can come true. But, Joyce shows us that it is not. The boy makes it all work. He rejects the idea of identifying himself with Irish Orientalism by refusing to buy from the salesgirl that he has seen flirting.
Araby is a tale of dead-ends. It begins in Dublin’s dark streets, promising a refuge in the bazaar. However, it soon returns to the same despair that had engulfed his life. While it may seem like it is just one teenager experiencing love for the first time, deep down, we see that it speaks volumes about society. It criticizes the human tendency to look at others in order to define oneself.
