Summary and Analysis of Araby

The book begins with the narrator, who remains nameless throughout the entire story, talking about life on North Richmond Street. He remembers that the priest who used to live in his apartment had died, showing the darkness in his life. But that is not the only darkness he has; the environment he lives in is gross and disgusting. He describes the neighborhood as having, "muddy lanes," and "dark dripping gardens." Since his life is so displeasing, he wants something meaningful; this is where is fantasy relationship comes into play. The narrator is in love with Mangan's sister. Every day he watches and waits for her to come out of her house, and as soon as she does, he immediately grabs all of his things and follows her. Even though he has such a burning passion for her, not once have they ever spoken to each other. But at last, one morning Mangan's sister talks to him, asking if he is planning to attend the bazaar in town, Araby. She tells him she is unable to go due to a school trip. After recovering from the shock of their conversation, the narrator offers to bring something back for her from the bazaar. The rest of the day, the narrator cannot concentrate in school because he keeps thinking about their conversation. On the morning of the bazaar, he reminds his uncle that he wants to go to Araby and asks him for money. But that night, the narrator waits and waits for his uncle to return. Not only is the uncle late, but when he does arrive, he does not even have the money for the boy. The narrator finally gets to the bazaar just before ten o'clock, when it closes. The bazaar is dark, empty and not at all what he expected it to be. No one is there, except for a couple fighting about something pointless. Suddenly, the lights are turned off and the narrator experiences anger and animosity. He was pushed to go to the bazaar for the love of the girl, even though their relationship was purely fantasy. He would do anything at all for her, despite the fact that their relationship was only in his imagination. Since the narrator is surrounded by so much disgust and darkness, Magan's sister resembles the lightness and happiness he wants in his life. But, by the end of the story, he discovers the light and happiness he so much desired, does not truly exist.