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James Joyce Use Of Imagery In Araby

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In the story James Joyce uses various literary techniques, like auditory imagery, symbolism, and especially an epiphany to represent the narrator's obsession and eventual disillusionment with his longing for change. Joyce uses a large dose of imagery in "Araby" in order to truly bring the reader into both the mind of the narrator and the lives of the Dubliners. One specific type of imagery Joyce applies in particular is auditory imagery. He uses auditory imagery in such a way as to make the reader understand that even the sounds in "Araby" reflect the boredom and routineness of the lives of the Dubliners. Examples of this are: "a silence like that which pervades a church after a church service" (paragraph 16, lines 6-8) and "fine incessant …show more content…
However, in the case of Araby, this epiphany actually effectively ends the narrator's relationship with Mangan's sister and only serves to drive home the story's theme. This occurs when the narrator reaches the bazaar. When the narrator reaches the bazaar after all his travails, he is expected to be greeted by some sort of spectacle. Something sufficiently out of the ordinary and exotic. After all, the bazaar is called "Araby" after Arabia and it is a "bazaar" which suggests a foreign fair. Instead, the narrator finds the place less charming and familiar as is referenced by the lines, "Nearly all the stalls were closed and the greater part of the hall was in darkness." (paragraph 15, lines 5-6) and "...went over to one of the stalls and examined porcelain vases and flowered tea-sets...I remarked their English accents..."(paragraph 16, lines 1-3) From the first line, it is clear that the bazaar is a lonely figure, half shrouded in darkness and neither appealing nor intriguing. From the second line, it is clear that the bazaar is hardly foreign at all, instead, there are stalls that sell tea-sets and many English folks. The bazaar is supposed to be "exotic", but it is the same as what can be found at home in Dublin. The young boy realizing all of this, the narrator comes to the conclusion that the chase of escape from routine is useless. Since he associates Mangan's sister with something out of the ordinary, he comes to the conclusion that chasing of her is

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