Presented by:
Ameera N. Al_Deeny
Supervised by:
Dr. Sami Breem
The author
Summary of the story
Setting
Point of view
Characters
Theme
Conflict
Climax
Symbolism
 James Augustine Aloysius Joyce (2 February 1882 – 13
January 1941) was an Irish novelist and poet, considered
to be one of the most popular writers in the early 20th
century.
 Famous Works:
 Chamber Music (poems)
 Exiles (play)
 Ulysses (novel)
 Dubliners (short story collection),publication in1914

A young, nameless boy falls head over heels for
Mangan's sister, whom is also nameless. However, he has
never spoken to her, yet is deeply infatuated with her. He
finally speaks to her and they talk about the Araby bazaar.
She said she couldn't go, so the boy takes it upon himself
to go to that bazaar and bring back something for
her. The boy goes to the bazaar, which is nothing but a hall
and exhibits. Eventually, the boy realizes that he was
foolish in going so far for this girl.
Time:
At the turn of the twentieth
century.
Place:
North Richmond Street in
the central part of Dublin city.
 It’s first person narrator that an adolescent boy who
doesn’t identify himself narrates the story.
 To readers who are familiar with James Joyce’s life and
works, it becomes clear that the boy represents the author.
 Major:
The boy who narrates the story is the central character.
 Minor:
• Mangan: narrator’s friend.
• Mangan’s sister: girl to whom the narrator is attracted.
• Narrator’s uncle and aunt, Mrs. Mercer, school master,
stall attendant, Dubliners as; laborers, boys, pedestrians.
“Araby” touches on a great number of themes:
 Coming of age.
 The loss of innocence.
 Isolation.
 The Catholic Church's influence.
 The dangers of idealization.
Internal:
Lustful feelings toward Mangan girl; feelings that his
religion tells him he must control.
“All my senses seemed to desire to veil themselves and
feeling that I was about to slip from them, I pressed the palms
of my hands together until they trembled, murmuring: `O
love! O love!' many times.“
External:
Environmental forces including; economic, social, cultural
conditions arising from British dominance of Ireland.

The climax occurs when the narrator, disillusioned by
what he finds at the bazaar, realizes that life in Dublin is
humdrum and that the Mangan girl probably has no
romantic interest in him. Belief that she was attracted to
him was a result of his vanity.
 Araby ; the beauty, mystery, and romance that the boy
longs for in his life.
 Priest ; religious symbol.
 Blind street symbolizes dead_ ends in the story or in
the real life (It suggests pessimism).
 Brown , imperturbable, descent ; Joyce uses these
words to draw attention to the dreariness and
plainness of Dublin.
 Empty house; Joyce mentions it perhaps to suggest an
empty future awaiting the boys playing on the street.
 Other symbols are; Ashpits, Café Chantant,
Florin(British coin)…etc.
Childhood experiences can help people grow up in
their thoughts and feelings. And when they become
adults, they look back at childhood as being filled with
foolish childish behavior only . However, grownups
learn by life to adjust with the reality. i.e. to keep the
right thoughts and replace the other ones.