Araby

In the short story called “Araby”, the narrator describes his first crush experience. Told from the perspective of a young boy; he tells a tale that shows emotional growth. With direct characterization and imagery concepts, the reader is able to relate to the boy’s emotional journey. The reason why the narrator uses these literary concepts is so the reader can see how the setting shadows the boy’s emotions. By writing in perspectives of fantasy and reality, the narrator can tell which part of the setting is fantasized and what is real. In the beginning of the story, the narrator gave the reader a general idea of the character’s lifestyle through a description of the boy’s neighborhood. The neighborhood itself was divided between his emotions,fantasy, reality. Both his perspectives (fantasy and reality) were based on his emotional connection to the outside world. “The career of our play brought us through the dark muddy lanes behind the houses where we ran the gantlet of the rough tribes from the cottages,...to the dark odorous stables where a coachman smoothed and combed the horse or shook music
One could tell that the boy was determined to get the gift for his crush. After he arrives the narrator can tell that his realistic perspective has taken over him. He stated, “I knew my stay was useless….I allowed the two pennies to fall against the sixpence in my pocket...the upper part of the hall was now completely dark...I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger,” (180). He has clearly realized he will never end up with his crush and get something valuable for her with just six cents. In the description of the boy’s awakening from fantasy, the narrator states the two emotions he felt; anguish and anger. Anguish for his course of action due to fantasy, and anger for not realizing this reality