An Awkward Encounter

Alright, so I read the passage “Araby” from Dubliners and I feel bad for the protagonist in the book. He’s obsessed with the girl next door, Mangan’s sister, and always watches her out of fascination and puppy love. He always thinks about her and frankly, he’s head over heels for the girl. After the first moment of conversation, the protagonist makes this epic journey to Araby, an Irish Bazaar, losing half of his money and the bazaar closes. I feel bad for the kid because he wanted to do so much, but is let down by his ambitions.

In someways, this moment reminds me of one scene in New York, New York, in the main character’s youth, he bought a cupcake from the local bakery for his sweetheart only to be shot down. I believe this classical image of rejection gains much appeal from the audience because many people can relate to being rejected and the theme itself is a cliche.