Character traits and events that take place within Araby are used to portray the sin of vanity that is very dominant throughout the story. A predominant effect of vanity causes a degradation of the spirit and free thought. James Joyce provides the reader a glimpse into the selfishness of one boy's drive towards sin.

The situational detail also displays vanity with examples of rash thought and selfish actions. The narrator decides to go to the Araby and purchase something for the girl. He notes that he cannot wait for the day of the festival and he "chafed against the work of school." This rash decision shows how his vanity clouds his reason. Another example is noted when the narrator states "that life stood between [him] and [his] desire." This displays a total shunning of hard work and decency; two things th

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Approximate Word count = 548
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)