The main character of Araby is a young boy just coming into his middle teens. He comes from a religious upbringing, lives in a quiet neighborhood and is extremely respectful of his elders. He loves to read, as is evident by his liking "The Memoirs of Vidocq" (Joyce 728) and enjoys cherished, passed down literature as "its leaves (have become) yellow (pg. 728)" over time. He is also a good student, except when his thoughts are occupied by his best friend's sister who also lives in his neighborhood. He is infatuated with her "Her image accompanied me even in places the most hostile to romance (pg. 729)" but he is clearly shy because he makes it known that he "did n

Unlike the young man in Araby, he lacks respect for his elders and women. This is evident from the initial incident at the cash register with a woman who he describes to be "a witch about 50 with rouge on her cheekbones and no eyebrows (pg. 733)." The way he describes the girls also seems to suggest that although he admires their looks, commenting on their faces, bodies, posture, and gestures, he has no respect for any of them, even the one he calls "queenie (pg. 733)."

In A & P the protagonist gets a name, Sammy. In Araby the character is nameless and almost ageless as the story only hints to the approximate age of the protagonist. Sammy, on the other hand is named for the obvious reason of showing what kind of a conceited person he really is. He wants people to notice him and to think that he is better than he really is. Sammy also seems not to think much of consequences of his actions. He is not concerned that his boss and his parents are good friends, and that he probably got the job because of that. He also is not concerned with Lengel, an elderly gentleman who probably will have a tough time finishing off the day by himself. He does not realize the significance of the act that he has committed. But, the girls are gone and he is alone. Sammy realizes that the world is going to be hard on him from this point on.

The protagonist in A & P, on the other hand, is different from the protagonist of Araby in many ways. He is 19, and comes from a different background, although it is clear that he also has little money and has to work for a living. He works at the local market in his town. His family is not introduced to the reader, other than when he mentions that they serve "lemonade" and "it's a real racy affair Schlitz in tall glasses (Updike 736)." His manner signals to the reader that he feels he is different from the people who visit the store he work

Some common words found in the essay are:
Vidocq Joyce, Sammy Araby, Unlike Araby, Updike's A&P, John Updike, pg 736, pg 729, coming age, they'll stop watch, unsuspected hero pg, stop watch unsuspected, hoping they'll stop, protagonist sammy, watch unsuspected hero, they'll stop, pg 732, hoping they'll, pg 733, watch unsuspected, stop watch,
Approximate Word count = 1268
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)