An unnamed boy who lives in North Dublin lives in a rather dull

environment, but fills his time with playing imaginatively with his friends. The
boy sees and develops a crush on the sister of one of his friends but hardly
interacts with her, but he thinks about her constantly. In his first conversation
with her, she tells him that she is upset that she cannot go to the Araby
bazaar, so the narrator offers to go and get her something. He waits for his
uncle to come home to give him some money, however he does not get
home until very late. When he does finally arrive, he gives the narrator
money and he takes the train to the bazaar, but when he gets there most of
the stalls are closed. At the one that is open a girl working there is having a
frivolous conversation with two men. The narrator feels shame and anger and
buys nothing.

Themes: Expectation/Idealism vs. Reality, Coming of Age/Loss of

Innocence

Conflict: Expectations of Love vs. Its Reality, Struggle Against

Daily Life

Setting: North Dublin; dull, only enjoyment comes from

imagination

Mood: Hopeful when he still feels love; at the end disappointed

and regretful

Symbols: Bazaar-mystery and unknown

Has both escapist and interpretative aspects, overall more

interpretive

Dublin is a placeholder for everywhere in this story in that the narrator and
his friends escape through imagination, whether it be playing in the streets or
imagining his love for Mangans sister.