Defying English Values; an essay about Araby by James Joyce

In every region around the world there are always values present while children grow up,
and that define the characteristics of a society as they turn into adults. As time goes by,
these values vary as society changes. There is no comparison between the social
characteristics in a region nowadays and the ones present in the beginning of the past
century; values also evolve. Another important factor is the geographical location that is
analyzed. Although the temporal situation might be the same everywhere, every region
has different cultural, political and social traits. In this essay it will be analyzed the social
situation in Ireland during the beginning of the 20 th century in the short story Araby by
James Joyce.
The early 20th century was a defining age in worldwide history. Social changes
happened as development was more and more present. Societies were at the eve of
shifting from conservative standards of living to a constantly-changing world. Women
began to have power, political tension in Europe was about to take place, and
technological progress was just around the corner. In the case of James Joyce, who was
an Irish modernist writer and a criticist of his homeland, the idea and representation of
Dublin is always present in his writings as determining factor of human and social traits.
Ireland in the early 20th century was a place in constant change and that was part of a
combination of people. Jews, Protestants, rich and poor lived together, and shared their
community. Although Joyce was very fond of Catholicism and it represented an important
factor through all his writing career. In terms of history, during that time Ireland was facing
an intense battle to achieve better rights and fair payments for the land-workers and
tenants. Tensions with the government, diverse political ideas, and poor development were
the most relevant situations at that time.

Araby is set in Dublin where the principal character is a boy who is in love with his
neighbor, and who thinks that he is special when he hears about a bazaar called Araby. He
wishes to go, thinking that he is specially selected to know about the place. The entire
story goes around him trying against all odds to finally arrive to this desired place. But in
the end when he arrives, he finds out that there is nothing special in Araby and he is just
another fish in the water. The values that will be analyzed are the perspectives that are
shown towards the child and the ones present in the child himself.
First of all the vision of the adults towards the children is very clear during the story.
The way they are always seen as inferiors mark the lack of importance they have in the
society, though it has always been present through all worldwide history. It is mostly shown
by the way the uncle forgets about the boys plan, and how the woman in the bazaar is
disgusted with his presence there. This marks a defining point in the way children grow up,
and their character as adults. There is no wonder how the notice of Araby gave the boy a
feeling of importance and high self-esteem.

On Saturday morning I reminded my uncle that I wished to go to the bazaar in

the evening. He was fussing at the hallstand, looking for the hat-brush, and
answered me curtly:
'Yes, boy, I know.'

Also the character of the uncle shows the role of men in that society. The money
was administrated by him, and it is clear throughout the story that he is the main figure of
authority in the house. This trait is understood because of the social context where the
story is submerged; men were still in charge of every important decision taken, and had an
indispensable role.

'The people are in bed and after their first sleep now,' he said.
I did not smile. My aunt said to him energetically:
'Can't you give him the money and let him go? You've kept him late enough as it
is.'

The combination of cultures is also present when the boy arrives to the store in
Araby, where the English woman is talking to other shop-workers. It is probable that she is
not the only English woman in the bazaar, and seeing that she works there, she must not
have as much money as the boy might have. The way he treats the kid could have two
different reasons. The first one due to the fact that he is a boy, and she does not take him
seriously, or it could also reflect the social and political disputes that were taking place in
Dublin.
Observing me, the young lady came over and asked me did I wish to buy
anything. The tone of her voice was not encouraging; she seemed to have spoken
to me out of a sense of duty.

The past references to values where just a few analysis of the social context of the
early 20th century in Ireland, being conscious that there are more factors and
characteristics to analyze. But the most important question is if the values expressed in the
story are shown as a critic to the Irish society or as natural aspects that Joyce himself had
in his every-day life.