Dreams and Reality in the stories ` Araby` and `Eveline `

Running Head : Dreams and Reality

Dreams and Reality in James Joyce 's Araby ' and Eveline

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In the short stories Araby ' and Eveline , James Joyce uses a hopeful reality created by dreams to show the separate , but similar fates of two people toying unsuccessfully with first love . Both characters dream of how their life will change when united with the object of their affection , sees their significant other through the rose-colored glasses of idolatry , and

experience worry and confusion about whether devotion and affection will be enough to sustain their relationships

In Araby ' the story is told through first person narrative about a boy who is experiencing his first crush . While his friends run about and play outside , he sits at the window waiting for a glimpse of Mangan 's sister . Thinking himself more mature than they , he chafes at the requirement of attending school where he considers his assignments ugly monotonous child 's play (page . With Eveline , the reader is given a glimpse into a life of drudgery and the threat of violence from an alcoholic father from which she had nobody to protect her (page ) through third person narrative . Her desire to go away with Frank seems to be the perfect way to leave behind all that is depressingly familiar and venture out into a world where adventure and excitement await Frank would save her (page . The characters in both stories have dreams about changing their world and the objects of their affection play a key role

The boy in Araby daydreams about Mangan 's sister and her beauty and what would make her happy . From the very first relating of his glimpse of the girl when the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side (page ) to his last as he spoke with her about the Araby festival in the light from the porch which caught the white b of a petticoat , just visible (page ) it is clear that the character idolizes his friend 's sister . Eveline , too , recalls Frank as very kind , manly , open-hearted (page . As a sailor , he has been to many places around the world and it is this sophistication and worldliness that appeals to Eveline , who fears ending up as her mother with that [same] life of commonplace sacrifices (page . Frank is her ticket to freedom and he teases her with trips to the theatre and tales of the danger and adventure in exotic ports . Both Eveline and the boy in Araby want something beyond their humble beginnings and see their loved ones as being the way to attain a happiness they 've only dreamed about

Along with the dreams , however , comes a hard dose of reality . The character in Araby is so excited by the chance to purchase a trinket for his love that his school work suffers and thoughts of her intrude upon his everyday life his body like a harp (page ) and the...