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Araby

In: English and Literature

Submitted By Harmonica1924
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2. The characters' indifferent attitudes show an apathetic life. The characters' indifferent attitudes show an apathetic life. Through "Araby" James Joyce gave readers the idea that Dubliners at that time lived lives which just center on their own feelings and benefits. That "apathetic life" was clearly exposed via the unconcerned attitudes of the uncle, Mangan's sister and the saleswoman towards the narrator I. Initially, the uncle’s apathy is one of the most unequivocal evidences concerning indifferent life. The narrator, an unnamed boy, lived with his aunt and uncle. From the beginning, the way James Joyce describe the narrator’s dingy house with oppressive atmosphere partly revealed the lack of warm affection and loving care that the boy was suffering. He is at the age of numerous complicated feelings and perception towards life when careful guidance from adult was crucial. Unfortunately, his aunt and uncle failed to give him all the love and teaching he needed. He struggled with his own unrequited love, his desire to reach Araby on time but nobody cared. The narrator sincerely asked his aunt and uncle for permission to go to the bazaar. He kept on reminding his uncle that “I wished to go to the bazaar in the evening”. In spite of the boy’s wholehearted request, all he got back was a curt answer “Yes, boy, I know”. This detail left us a distinct feeling of his uncle’s carelessness and indifference. That negative reaction made the boy “felt the house in bad humour” and he realized that his heart already “misgave” him. But it was just the beginning of the endless chain of disappointment. His uncle came back home very late that night and he had forgotten his miserable nephew’s request. The boy’s heart sank as he heard his uncle said “The people are in bed and after their first sleep now”. The apathetic life was once again emphasized when the narrator told his uncle where he was going “a second time”. His great excitement was killed time after time. At the end, it was indifferent attitudes that led to the boy’s “anguish and anger”. Moreover, apathetic life was also conclusively proven through the narrator’s unrequited love. He fell in love with Mangan’s sister. He could spend all day long to watch “her dress swung as she moved her body, and the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side”. His heart was full of joy whenever her image came across his mind. He even thought about the future. All these little things fully showed his pure love for Mangan’s sister. Unluckily, she did nothing in return for that passionate feeling except for a short conversation. The more he fell for her, the more indifferent she was. The narrator gave all his love; yet, he received nothing but lukewarmth from surrounding people in general and his loved one in particular. Finally, the indifference was pushed to its climax when the narrator met the saleswoman. The bazaar should have been full of warm welcome and joy. But all he got was the unconcerned voice and behavior. Nobody noticed his existence. The people’s apathy broke his heart again. In conclusion, James Joyce successfully brought in light the apathetic life of Dubliners through the above characters’ indifferent attitudes. 532 words

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