Initiation Story Araby by James Joyce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Initiation Story Araby by James Joyce - Essay Example idered to be a person who gains notoriety as a result of showing great courage or nobility of purpose in the accomplishment of a deed or a lifetime (â€Å"Aristotle†, 1998). However, when one speaks of the hero journey, one is almost always confronted with a young character who transforms from the illusions of a child into the realities of an adult. The three major stages of the initiation process can be traced through a number of stories including James Joyce’s short story â€Å"Araby.† The first stage of the initiation process is the understanding that some kind of action is required by the individual. â€Å"Some kind of shock occurs that makes one aware of the self† (Garbis, 2002). This shock initiates the maturation process typically around the early teen years. It is an essential element of the initiation process as it forces the individual to separate from the comfortable environment and discover personal feelings and attitudes in order to solve a problem. Joyce’s story begins on a small street, North Richmond Street, in a small area of town in which life seems relatively bland. Everything is described in shadowed tones as the narrator, a young boy, provides the details of his evening romps with his friends illustrating the ways in which he is a part of the crowd. However, the one illuminated figure in this early segment of the story is the figure of Mangan’s sister. In this image, the narrator becomes separated from the rest, suddenly sol itary as â€Å"every morning I lay on the floor in the front parlour watching her door. The blind was pulled down to within an inch of the sash so that I could not be seen† (Joyce). In describing his actions, the boy is undoubtedly alone and isolated as he encounters new feelings and impressions that are completely new to him. In volunteering to bring something back for her from Araby, the grand bazaar, the boy begins the journey stage of the initiation process. It is during this stage that the young person