<\/em>by James Joyce. Written for ENGL 201, Fall 2021. <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\nThroughout the short story \u201cAraby,\u201d horse-imagery is used to represent the vanity demonstrated by Mangan\u2019s sister, the uncle, and the young boy. To communicate this hidden meaning to the reader, James Joyce uses metaphorical language in the description of objects or actions that point towards the symbol of a horse. Several instances occur throughout the text that show the connection between vanity and horses including the first description of a horse, Mangan\u2019s sister\u2019s behaviour and appearance on the porch, the uncle\u2019s focus on a hat brush, and the young boy\u2019s epiphany. This underlying meaning conveys the foolishness of chasing vain pursuits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The earliest mention of a horse in \u201cAraby\u201ddepicts the animal as a perfect creature using juxtaposition between the clean horse and the imperfect, grimy surroundings. Joyce describes the local environment as \u201cmuddy\u201d, \u201crough\u201d, and \u201codorous\u201d (430). In contrast, the horse\u2014while living in the same conditions\u2014is kept \u201csmoothed and combed\u201d and creates \u201cmusic from the buckled harness\u201d (430). There is nothing directly vain about the horse being beautiful; however, the level of attention and care given to the animal, while the outside world remains a mess, indicates the pride and arrogance of exalting oneself over the lower class in a boastful manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through metaphorical language and repetition, James Joyce evokes horse-imagery when portraying Mangan\u2019s sister, revealing the connection between vanity and the beautiful animal. The young boy describes the girl\u2019s hair as \u201ca soft rope\u2026toss[ing] from side to side\u201d (431). This description is closely related to the swaying of a braided mane or flicking of a horse\u2019s tail. Additionally, the boy focuses on Mangan\u2019s sister\u2019s \u201cwhite curv[ed]\u201d neck (432)—-a distinguishing feature of the four-legged species. Further insight on this detail lies in the referenced poem, \u201cThe Arab\u2019s Farewell to His Steed\u201d by Caroline Norton. The poem begins with the Arab appraising his gorgeous steed, and one of the key features mentioned is an \u201carch\u2019d and glossy neck\u201d (line 2). The girl\u2019s \u201cwhite curv[ed]\u201d neck (432) is an allusion to the \u201cglossy neck\u201d (line 2) of the Arabian horse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another way Joyce communicates the image of a horse in Mangan\u2019s sister is found in the repetition of the word \u201crailing\u201d. The young boy stands at \u201cthe railings looking at her\u201d, waits alone \u201cat the railings\u201d, and watches the girl\u2019s hand rest \u201cupon the railings\u201d (431-432). Whenever the word \u201crailing\u201d is used, it is in reference to Mangan\u2019s sister\u2019s whereabouts. \u201cRailing\u201d can be interpreted as the fence encircling the girl, preventing her from wandering. When the young boy visits Mangan\u2019s sister on the porch, it is similar to the way in which an individual would watch a horse through a fence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to presenting the girl in a horse-like image, the text also associates her actions with a certain bondage to vanity. While speaking to the boy about the bazaar, \u201cshe turned a silver bracelet round and round her wrist\u201d (432). This absent-minded action suggests the girl\u2019s vain pursuit of material things. The silver bracelet may represent an enslavement to materialism and greed. Further, just as a horse is contained in its paddock, so too is the girl encompassed in vanity. In Mangan\u2019s sister, the reader can see intertwined images of both vanity and horses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the boy reminds his uncle about wanting to go to the Bazaar, Joyce seamlessly alludes to the underlying theme of horses and vanity through use of metaphors. The uncle is stated to be \u201cfussing at the hall-stand, looking for the hat brush\u201d (432) when the boy is speaking to him. In this interaction, the vanity of the uncle is apparent due to his \u201cfussing\u201d in the mirror and quest for the hat brush. He is striving for perfection, exasperated that he cannot find a brush for his hat and thus will lack the pristine quality desired. As mentioned previously in the text, horses are animals needing to be combed or brushed regularly. This mention of a brush once more suggests the excessiveness involved in perfecting the appearance of an animal or, in this case, a hat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joyce\u2019s use of horse-imagery to symbolize the vanity and greed of characters is consummated when the boy realizes that he is one of the \u2018horses\u2019 in this tale\u2014he too fell into the trap of vanity. Throughout the story, the boy interacts with several \u2018horses.\u2019 The first horse is Mangan\u2019s sister, a captive of vanity. The young boy\u2019s uncle is the second horse, obsessed with immaculate presentation and too caught up in his own world to remember his nephew\u2019s request. Just like those before him, the boy fell into vanity. He was confident that purchasing something for Mangan\u2019s sister would draw out her affection\u2014in this confidence he became conceited. In the end, the boy realizes that he too is \u201ca creature driven and derided by vanity\u201d (434). Like an obedient horse, he followed the tug of the bit while vanity guided his steps to the stalls of the bazaar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In conclusion, the story “Araby” by James Joyce integrates imagery of horses as a method of representing the vanity demonstrated by Mangan\u2019s sister, the uncle, and the young boy. This underlying message is communicated through metaphorical language relating to the symbolic image of a horse. In \u201cAraby,\u201d whenever horse-related language is used, vanity is also present. The combed horse indicates vanity through excessive beauty, Mangan\u2019s sister\u2014who is described as \u2018horse-like\u2019\u2014displays bondage to materialism, the uncle seeks after perfection in his appearance using a brush, and the boy realizes that he is vanity\u2019s pawn or creature\u2014driven by its relentless whip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
–<\/h2>\n\n\n\nWorks Cited<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Joyce, James. “Araby.” The Art of the Short Story<\/em>, Gioia, D., Gwynn, R.S., Pearson, 2006, 430-434. <\/p>\n\n\n\nNorton, Caroline. \u201cThe Arab\u2019s Farewell to His Steed.\u201d 1869. The Word on the Street<\/em>, https:\/\/digital.nls.uk\/broadsides\/view\/?id=16174<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A Critical Analysis of “Araby“ by James Joyce. Written for ENGL 201, Fall 2021. Throughout the short story \u201cAraby,\u201d horse-imagery is used to represent the vanity demonstrated by Mangan\u2019s sister, the uncle, and the young boy. To communicate this hidden meaning to the reader, James Joyce uses metaphorical language in the description of objects or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":326,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","WB4WB4WP_MODE":"","WB4WP_PAGE_SCRIPTS":"","WB4WP_PAGE_STYLES":"","WB4WP_PAGE_FONTS":"","WB4WP_PAGE_HEADER":"","WB4WP_PAGE_FOOTER":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-school-assignments"],"yoast_head":"\n
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