James Joyce · English Literature

In 'Araby', the young protagonist’s journey to the bazaar ends in a 'vanity of spirit' because:

  1. He loses his money on the train to the bazaar
  2. He arrives too late to find the bazaar cold and mundane
  3. His uncle refuses to let him leave the house in time
  4. The girl he loves is already there with another admirer
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Correct answer: He arrives too late to find the bazaar cold and mundane

The epiphany in 'Araby' is one of disillusionment. The boy’s romantic, orientalist fantasies are crushed by the cold reality of the nearly empty bazaar and the trivial chatter of the stall-holders.

Difficulty: Medium Question 18 of 20

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