Symbolism

A detailed Summary of Symbolism

In both Updike's "A&P" and Joyce's "Araby," the themes that exist are dependent on the use of words and the interpretation of the symbolism. In "A&P," the bathing suit clad girls that Sammy envisions as living glamorous lives represents Sammy's longing for a more adventurous life, outside of his small beachside town. In "Araby," the boy's desire and eventual heartbreak at the unknowing hands of Mangan's sister is shown through the use of symbolism. Both stories thrive on the diction and interpretation of the symbolism present throughout.

"A&P" starts off with three girls walking into a grocery store in nothing but their bathing suits. Soon after their entrance, they catch the eye of Sammy, a store clerk in the third check-out slot. Sammy follows the girls around the store with his eyes, describing them very thoroughly, even describing one the girl's "sweet broad soft-looking can, with those two crescents of white just under it." After following the girls up and down the aisles with their eyes, Sammy and Stokesie fool around saying, "Oh Daddy, I feel so faint," and, "Darling, hold me tight." Sammy then describes Stokesie as being no different than him, except being married, with two babies, and a few years difference in ag

As the story continues we learn about the boy's infatuation with his friend Mangan's sister. "Every morning I lay on the floor...the blind was pulled down...when she came out on the doorstep my heart leaped." The boy describes his love for her as a flood from the heart. "My body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires." We also find out that he has never spoken to her and really doesn't know if he ever will. Finally the two speak and she asks if he is going to the bazaar. As they talk, the boy watches her silver bracelet turn around her wrist over and over, and the light reflect her neck. As they speak, the boy also describes her holding onto the spike that is part of the railing, which is foreshadowing his eventual heartbreak or spike to the heart. They finish their conversation with the boy saying that he will bring her something back from the bazaar, which becomes his mission over the next few days.

When the boy arrives nearly all of the stalls are closed and the boy seems to panic. Finally he finds an open stall and looks around while listening to a conversation between a lady and two gentlemen working the stall: "O, I never said such a thing! O, but you did! O, but I didn't! Didn't she say that? Yes, I heard her. O, there's a ... fib!" This is almost something that the boy would be running through his mind, as if he was second-guessing his coming to the bazaar. Finally, the young lady asks him if he wishes to buy anything. You would think he would jump at the chance to buy his love, Mangan's sister, a gift, but instead he replies, "No, thank you." Now, the boy just slowly walks away as he allows the money that he has been holding onto so tight just fall into his pocket, letting it slip away. This is symbolic of his apparent love for Mangan's sister and the fact that he has an epiphany and realizes that he doesn't love her. Someone calls to the end of the gallery that the light is out, and the boy's light is too. Once again, the appearance of darkness brings about a depressing mood. "Gazing about into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger." The boy has just suffered his first heartbreak, through the spike in the heart

Some common words found in the essay are:
Richmond Street, Lengel Sammy, Didn't Yes, Joyce's Araby, Oh Daddy, A&P Sammy's, God Queenie, Sour Cream, Soon Sammy's, mangan's sister, Sammy Stokesie, sammy describes, love mangan's sister, love mangan's, hands mangan's sister, boy describes, eventual heartbreak, depressing mood, unknowing hands, hands mangan's, unknowing hands mangan's, heartbreak spike heart, spike heart, heartbreak spike,

Approximate Word count = 1537
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English