Love anticipation is a leading aspect for just about everyone in life. Nobody wants to feel rejected by someone that they really care for and want to be a part of their lives. This eagerness can either bring about happiness or pure hopelessness for the individual. In James Joyce’s short story, “Araby”, and T.S. Eliot’s dramatic monologue, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, the expectation of love is of high regard. Both of the main characters of these short stories are constantly fighting with themselves over whether or not love in is their favor. With their endless battles, they are unable to live their lives to the fullest. Throughout both of these pieces of work, a common thread of love anticipation occurs for each of the …show more content…
They think that no matter what they do, the females are criticizing and looking down on them. Both characters make these assumptions even before talking to the females. The young boy in “Araby” tormented himself in that the Mangan girl asked him to attend the bazaar and he missed it. He said, “Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger” (Joyce 5). The narrator will not allow himself to live it down that he was unable to be at the bazaar when he had originally wished; therefore, in his eyes, he missed out on his chances with the Mangan girl and she will no longer look at him the same. His self-esteem is lowered even more at this point in the short story, because of how disappointed he is over missing out on his opportunity with the girl. Even though he did not make it to the bazaar, the young boy still tried his chances with the Mangan girl. This shows that he did not lack faith in himself in the beginning of the short story, other than being shy and afraid to talk to her. Missing out on the bazaar was a large interference in his plans for