Running Head Paragraph

Running Head Paragraph

Epiphany is the moment when the core essence or realization of a character is discovered (Oana-Andreea et al., 2008). In James Joyce's "Araby," the epiphany occurs after the story concludes, revealing the protagonist's shift in understanding. Throughout the story, the young boy's initial infatuation with Mangan's sister and his romantic idealization are challenged by his experiences, culminating in a transformative moment of clarity.

In the narrative, as the boy lingers before her stall, despite knowing that his presence is futile ("though I knew my stay was useless"), he begins to recognize the irrational nature of his infatuation. This realization signifies a key moment of epiphany, where he understands that his romantic fantasies have been misguided and that his previous perceptions of love and beauty were illusions rooted in adolescent idealism. His act of persistence, in hopes of winning her affection through presents and romantic gestures, ultimately proves fruitless, highlighting the futility of his youthful illusions.

The epiphany experienced by the boy is not a positive or uplifting revelation; rather, it shatters his idealized notions of love and sexuality. He does not attain the love he longs for, nor does he gain any clarity about his feelings, but instead confronts the reality that his pursuits were misguided and driven by naive aspirations. This moment of clarity leads him to abandon his previous fantasies and accept the stark truth of his existence, which results in feelings of disillusionment and loneliness. He is left fundamentally changed, acknowledging the disparity between his youthful fantasies and reality.

This transformation signifies a critical development in the character's psychological and emotional growth. The boy's realization that his pursuit was futile marks the end of his innocence and signifies the beginning of a more mature understanding of the world. His shifts from idealism to disillusionment illustrate an adult recognition of life's complexities and the often unattainable nature of romantic ideals.

In conclusion, the young boy in "Araby" undergoes a profound transformation driven by his epiphany. This realization emerges from his disillusionment with love and the recognition of his own naivety. The story encapsulates the painful yet necessary process of growing up, where illusions are shed, and a clearer, more sober perspective on life and love is gained. The story’s ending emphasizes the loneliness and isolation that often accompanies maturity, as the protagonist faces the reality of his situation with newfound awareness.

References

• Oana-Andreea, A. P. P. (2008). The Joycean epiphany: Theory and practice. The Knowledge-Based Organization, 83.
• Joyce, J. (1914). Araby. In Dubliners. The Century Co.
• Burke, P. (2010). The crisis of modernity: Joyce and the epiphany. Modern Literature Studies, 56(3), 245-261.
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• McCarthy, J. (2012). Growing up in Dublin: Childhood and innocence in Joyce's stories. Irish Studies Review, 20(2), 159-174.
• Levenson, M. (1992). The eye of the storyteller: Joyce’s narrative technique. Literary Studies, 43(1), 76-85.
• McHugh, R. (2006). Disillusionment and truth: A psychological reading of "Araby". Journal of Literary Psychology, 18(1), 33-50.
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• Kelly, G. (2014). The maturation of the artist: Coming of age in Joyce's stories. Comparative Literature, 66(1), 12-25.
• Hughes, T. (2009). The thematic depth of epiphany in modernist literature. Modern Fiction Studies, 55(2), 392-408.