Araby Archetypes

In the short story, “Araby,” James Joyce uses archetypes to engage the creative side of the reader’s mind. The use of archetypes suggests that Joyce desires to convey the myriad amounts of symbolism which can be interpreted in different ways by the reader. It can be inferred that the boy does not genuinely discover endearment. The “love” that the boy senses are nothing but a superficial lust of the flesh. Many reasons could back up the fact that he does not find true love. The narrator allows other external factors to get in between him and Mangan’s sister. For reference, his uncle who had arrived late in the evening. The boy easily breaks under pressure at the bazaar, when the flirty cashier seems to disregard him. When confronted by the cashier,

The primary conflict that caused the proverbial snowball, is when the boy’s uncle forgets to arrive home early, and give him money for the bazaar. This displays neglect from the uncle, and the boy further doubts his abilities with getting Mangan’s sister. Upon the boy’s arrival to the bazaar, he has an epiphany. The once unique and foreign bazaar has changed since the boy overhears a flirty conversation between the English story clerk and two young men. He comes to the realization that he has been misinterpreting messages. The bazaar, which he thought would be exciting, and exotic, was really only a commercialized place to purchase exquisite looking gifts. The boy easily turns down the opportunity to purchase Mangan’s sister a gift, when approached by the rather sociable shop clerk. When the boy turned down the opportunity, he realized and swiftly vacates the shop. A simple conversation with Mangan’s sister would have sufficed. The boy locks himself into a one-way verbal agreement. the reader can infer that she did not even expect the narrator to purchase her a gift. His conversation with Mangan’s sister, during which he had vowed to buy her something from the bazaar if he had visited, was only meaningless small talk. He realizes that she will not care if he fulfills his