Comparing Araby And At The Pitt-Rivers
In both Penelope Lively's "At the Pitt-Rivers" and James Joyce's "Araby" the boy narrators have skewed views about love. Throughout his particular story however, each narrator realizes that his ideas on love were mistaken and begins to modify his muddled thinking.
In "At the Pitt-Rivers" the sixteen year-old narrator was certain that he knew all there was to know about love. "I mean, I've seen films and I've read books and I know a bit about things. As a matter of fact I've been in love twice myself" (25 - "At the Pitt-Rivers"). The first time was with a girl from his class at school and the later time was with a girl who came to stay with her sister, who lived around the corner from him. He was convinced that he was knowledgeable and experienced …show more content…
However, he certainly is more naïve and innocent than the teenager. He is madly in love with Magnan's sister, a girl about whom he says, "I had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words" (16 -Araby). Much like the other narrator's initial thoughts, the boy is convinced that he can be in love with someone he barely knows. Through his fantasies, the boy has convinced himself that he knows her better than he really does. "Every morning I lay on the floor in the front parlour watching her door. The blind was pulled down within an inch of the sash so I could not be seen" (16 -A). If a boy tells himself day in and day out that he knows a girl well and that he is madly in love with her, he will eventually start to believe it. Amazingly, one day the girl strikes up a conversation with the boy. She mentions that she is unable to go to the bazaar because of a commitment at her convent. So the boy eagerly offers to buy her something if he goes. Days later, when he finally goes to the bazaar, he immediately begins looking at the porcelain vases and flowered tea-sets. He thinks that this is the gift most fitting for the object of his affections because white porcelain and flowers represent purity and therefore the object of his love. Magnan's sister is the most pure person he can imagine. After further examination of the selection of gifts, he
In "At the Pitt-Rivers" the sixteen year-old narrator was certain that he knew all there was to know about love. "I mean, I've seen films and I've read books and I know a bit about things. As a matter of fact I've been in love twice myself" (25 - "At the Pitt-Rivers"). The first time was with a girl from his class at school and the later time was with a girl who came to stay with her sister, who lived around the corner from him. He was convinced that he was knowledgeable and experienced …show more content…
However, he certainly is more naïve and innocent than the teenager. He is madly in love with Magnan's sister, a girl about whom he says, "I had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words" (16 -Araby). Much like the other narrator's initial thoughts, the boy is convinced that he can be in love with someone he barely knows. Through his fantasies, the boy has convinced himself that he knows her better than he really does. "Every morning I lay on the floor in the front parlour watching her door. The blind was pulled down within an inch of the sash so I could not be seen" (16 -A). If a boy tells himself day in and day out that he knows a girl well and that he is madly in love with her, he will eventually start to believe it. Amazingly, one day the girl strikes up a conversation with the boy. She mentions that she is unable to go to the bazaar because of a commitment at her convent. So the boy eagerly offers to buy her something if he goes. Days later, when he finally goes to the bazaar, he immediately begins looking at the porcelain vases and flowered tea-sets. He thinks that this is the gift most fitting for the object of his affections because white porcelain and flowers represent purity and therefore the object of his love. Magnan's sister is the most pure person he can imagine. After further examination of the selection of gifts, he