Thesis Statement
Araby is about the boy’s mental initiation
Introduction
How Dubliners Reflect the Life in Dublin
(Nicola and Sheryl)

I. Religion is the central part of the
Dubliner’s spiritual life and standard of
conduct.

A. Their life depends largely on religion, and
religious experience is the most common
experience among people.
B. There are many examples of religious
associations from the stories, such as the boy
associated religious images to his lover in Araby
and the priests in other stories.
How Dubliners reflect the life in Dublin

II. Political and religious powers are
struggle to be the dominant one.

A. The Parnell’s case had an enormous
impact on
the two powers.
B. Nationalism and tradition of the
Catholics are two strong debate topics for the
Irish.
How Dubliners Reflect the Life in Dublin

Iii. Serious drinking problem is among
Irish labor class.


A. Drinking gives people a moment of
fulfillment and hope.
B. People see that they can do nothing
to help themselves to get out of their miserly
state after they had their drink.
How Dubliners reflect the life in Dublin

IV. The paralysis theme is throughout
the stories.


A. Many characters tried to get away
from the environment but all in vain.
B. Most people have neither power nor
influence to change their present situation.
How Dubliners reflect the life in Dublin

V. Childhood experiences made
James Joyce see Dublin as a place
people want to get out from.


A. His family degenerates in social
position and had to move many times.
B. His first sexual experience made him
realize the truth of his fear and respect for his
religion.
Repressed Sexuality
(Dominique)

The Image of Mangan’s sister is
sexual and sensual.



He is attracted to her physical appearance.
Since her beautiful appearance and her
(might be) higher-class family, her image is
raised to a religious level in his heart.
His adoration towards an older woman is a
type of Oedipal attachment to mother.
Repressed Sexuality

Due to the gloomy and religious
atmosphere, his sexual desire is
restrained and revealed very limitedly.
The general social air and religious regulation
functions as superego to repress his id that
desires the girl.
Repressed Sexuality

The way he expresses his
sexuality is very obscure.



The sexual orgasm is merged with religious
ecstasy.
He has to isolate himself from the bad setting
he is in to get together with her in his fantasy.
This rush is like a beastly impulse.
Initiation of the Boy
(Kim and Maggie)

The boy is growing, changing and
initiated by the girl.



The boy is at first presented like a boy and
often plays with other boys.
Later, there are more and more scenes that
he is alone and isolated with others, which
shows that he is changing and growing.
When exiting the train station, he goes out
through the “adult entrance”.
Unsuccessful socialization
There is no powerful authority in
family, religion and society.
I.



His uncle is drunk thus there is no strong father
figure or authority for him to identify with.
His aunt has totally no power in the family.
The priest, who is the representative for religion
in this play, is dead
Unsuccessful socialization
II. He learns what reality is and feels
disappointed with this real world and
its vanity.




When he goes to the market with his aunt, he does
not like the people there and the whole society then is
just as vulgar as the market.
The gossip between the neighbor Mrs. Mercer and
her aunt again shows how vulgar the people in that
society are.
The conversation between the girl and two guys in
Araby also shows what reality is like.
He finally learns that his dreams and illusions cannot
come true in the real world. He realizes the fact but
he does not accept this vulgar society.
Conclusion
(Karen)

The prevailing atmosphere in the society
restrains the boy’s ability to express his
emotions.

The problems of weak authority and the
vulgar society can not meet the boy’s
spiritual needs though he eventually faces
the reality.
Conclusion

This boy does not follow Freudian
plots.


He does not identify himself with the father
image and does not reach the stage of
socialization.
The Oedipus complex does not totally appear.