Monday, August 24, 2015

Why does Joyce not mention the object of the narrator's affection in the middle of the third paragraph?"Araby" by James Joyce

Concerning Joyce's "Araby," you should first realize that
no one can really speak for a writer.  We can only deal with effects and functions,
results.  We cannot speak with any kind of certainty about what went on in a writer's
mind.


Secondly, the object of the speaker's affection,
Mangan's sister, is mentioned in the third paragraph of the story. 
She is affectionately described by the narrator. 


I can
only assume, then, that what you're really interested in knowing, is why she isn't
identified as the object of the speaker's affection in paragraph three.  And to that, I
answer that she is, although indirectly.  Here are the
lines:



Her
brother always teased her before he obeyed and I stood by the railings looking
at her
Her dress swung as she moved her body and the soft rope of
her hair tossed from side to
side.



I've
supplied the italics.  These lines demonstrate the speaker's interest, fascination, and
infatuation.  Those are words from a young boy infatuated with an older girl.  Thus, she
is identified as the object of his affection, even though the identification is made
indirectly.  The speaker shows the reader, instead of
telling the reader.  In this case, the showing is very effective. 
 

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