Araby And Eveline (Similarities In Theme & Plot)

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Eveline and Araby Both Eveline and Araby were well written short stories by James Joyce. Reading these two stories without performing any analysis or study, it would be improbable to notice their similarities considering they embody abstruse and obscure symbols within their settings and situations. But after meticulous study, the similarities in their themes and plot become clear and apparent.

Eveline and Araby share the same theme, which is knowing the distinctions between the real and the ideal can be momentous in life. Not knowing this distinction will create confusion and conflict in life as it did for Eveline and the boy. For Eveline, it nearly took her down the wrong path in life with Frank. For the boy, it had created isolation for him and nearly took him down the wrong path in life with false dreams and love for Mangan's sister.

There are bountiful similarities between the plots of Eveline and Araby.

They both have significant patterns in their sequence of actions. One point or another before the climatic moment, the protagonist's situation was revealed. In Eveline, she was in a situation torn between two worlds and was in need of guidance by "God"�. She was in a state of confusion and needed him "to direct her"� and help her choose which road to take. In Araby, the boy was also in a situation torn between what was real and ideal and he needed guidance in the "blind"� world around him. Since he was in a state of isolation, it made him more vulnerable to confusion. Like Eveline, he wasn't able to receive the guidance that he needed. For instance, the boy was living in a home which the former tenant was a dead priest, there were books that were old, and there was a bicycle that...