Araby Group

Question:

khaezzy
khaezzy
Student
High School - 9th Grade

In the story of the same name, what connotations does the word "Araby" have for the narrator?

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Posted by khaezzy on Thursday March 12, 2009 at 7:20 AM and tagged with araby, connotative language, narrator, themes.

Answers:

  1. mshurn
    mshurn Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    For the narrator, the word Araby conjures up exotic visions of all that is missing in his daily life: color, wealth, beauty, romance, and mystery. These feelings are especially strong when the concept of Araby illuminates his reveries about Mangan's sister:

    The syllables of the word Araby were called to me through the silence in which my soul luxuriated and cast an Eastern enchantment over me.

    Just the word itself draws the narrator out of his own drab life into one of rich and exciting possibilities.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/araby/araby-writings-james-joyce
    http://www.enotes.com/araby/summary
    http://www.enotes.com/araby/themes

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    Posted by mshurn on Thursday March 12, 2009 at 8:59 AM