The short story, "Araby", written in 1914, by James Joyce is about a very depressed and lonely boy who decides to go to an eastern-styled bazaar in hopes that it will ease his miserable life. Throughout the story he battles with many emotions and lack of control. Moreover, the themes of isolation and control are somewhat connected because the reason for the boy's emotional distance is his lack of control over his life.
The story starts off as the boy describes his neighborhood. A feeling of alienation and bleakness prevails. The street the boy lives on is a dead end; he is literally trapped. Just like his home, his neighborhood is filled with decay. Also the setting is a main factor in the boy's depression. The weather is unkind to him; it is very cold and windy, making it difficult for him to play. Even the gardens are gloomy and empty, having only an apple tree and a few jagged shrubs. This Setting is hardly a place a boy would enjoy to be in. The Streets are muddy and all of the other houses are filled the warmth of family. His house is always seems to be filled with musty air. The last tenant who lived there was a priest who had died. The priest left all of his money to institutions and his furniture to his sister. It was as if the priest had tried to ensure the boy's grief.
