The Boys of "A & P" and "Araby"
John Updike's "A & P" and James Joyce's "Araby" are very similar. The theme of the two stories is about a young man who is interested in figuring out the difference between reality and the fantasies of romance that play in his head and of the mistaken thoughts each has about their world, the girls, and themselves. One of the main similarities between the two stories is the fact that the main character has built up unrealistic expectations of women. Both characters have focused upon one girl which they place all their affection. Both Sammy and the boy suffer rejection in the end. Both stories also dive into the unstable mind of a young man who is faced with one of life's most difficult lessons. Their lesson is that things are not always as they appear to be.
Their confusion of the world is shown in the descriptions both boys use when describing the town in "A & P" and the bazaar of "Araby". Sammy speaks of the people of his town saying, the......
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Approximate Word Count: 674
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |