Epiphany in Araby

A detailed Summary of Epiphany in Araby


Araby, by James Joyce, is a tale that examines first love and the confusions that surround it. The epiphany of the story is the boy's discovery that the ideal gives way to the real. This journey is a quick one and the author wastes no time setting the scene and shaping the boy's persona.

In the first paragraph Joyce paints a scene of a dismal reality with his description of the houses and the neighborhood. One thing of interest is that he uses the word "blind" twice in the first two sentences. This is perhaps a foreshadowing of the characters and a statement about the nature of all men.

Right away it is obvious that the girl was the object of his adolescent desires. In fact, he was obsessed with her. He watched her every morning, followed her to school, fantasized about her, prayed,


The bazaar was nearly closed when he arrived, suggesting that maybe the world didn't revolve around his pathetic existence. He recognizes "a silence like that which pervades a church after a service" (Dubliners; p.29). A young lady being entertained by two men flirting with her, cheapens and destroys the boy's sense of an "Eastern enchantment." The people there are petty English and the goods are not what he imagined. He came seeking fulfillment but is left empty, finding the bazaar dirty and disappointing.

Up until this point the boy has been in La-la land. He has neglected everything in his day-to-day life and spent all of his time fantasizing. He has been "blinded" by his crush. Now Joyce begins to tear him down. Inside, the boy has this grand idea how everything will be. Instead ev

Some common words found in the essay are:
James Joyce, eastern enchantment,

Approximate Word count = 538
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

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