John Updike's A&P and James Joyce's Araby - Book Report/Review Example

Throughout literature, the viewpoint of the narrator defines the and meaning of the story. When the narrator speaks in first person, he becomes the assumed "hero" of the story because events are told from his perspective. For example, if Cinderella were told from the view of the evil stepmother, it would be a completely different story with a different meaning. Point of view makes a large contribution to the overall meaning in John Updike's "A&P" and James Joyce's "Araby." Both stories deal with a moment in childhood that changes the way the narrator sees the world. In the case of "A&P," a 19 year old male quits his job to defend the honor of a girl he does not even know. Perhaps this quick decision would not have been made by another character and the overall meaning of the story would be altered. In "Araby," a young boy finally sees the uselessness of trying to win a girl's heart by bringing her a present from a fair. "Araby" deals solely with the hopes and desires of one young man and could not be told from another view without losing its meaning. Both stories deal with the idea of love and the instant that the narrator feels foolish for his actions. The significance of these turning points would be altered if told from different perspectives and therefore makes point of view an import element to the stories. John Updike explores the impact of embarrassment in the world of teenagers in his story "A&P." The main character is a teenage boy named Sammy, who while working the cash register sees a group of girls wearing only bikinis enter the store. The manager publicly scolded the girls, which lead to Sammy quitting his job on the spot. Although Sammy felt his reaction justified the girls' embarrassment, he also immediately becomes aware of the impact his action will have on his future. Updike writes, "my stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be on be hereafter." The course of Sammy's life changes in an instant because of his reaction to the scene in the grocery store. The purpose of the story was to relate the impact of one decision in an individual's life. The main character in James Joyce's "Araby" is younger than the narrator in "A&P" and therefore deals with his attraction to a girl in a more childish manner. Speaking to this girl becomes a game for the narrator and when it actually happens, he is beside himself. However, all of his hopes are dashed when he arrives to the fair too late and in that instant, he sees the futility of his efforts. Joyce writes, "Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity, and my eyes burned with anguish and anger." This moment is a turning point in the young man's life as he realizes that he can't win her attention by purchasing something. The purpose of this story was the capture the anguish of this young man at a specific point. The two stories are told at different stages in life and are tailored to a specific moment in the narrator's life. Since the boy in "A&P" is older, he is more aware of social concerns and public embarrassment. As a 19-year-old, he probably just finished high school, a time in which social situations and embarrassment go hand in hand. Updike writes "but remembering how he made that pretty girl blush makes me so scrunchy inside" This passage demonstrates his awareness of social scenes and his ability to physically feel the embarrassment of the girls. By abruptly quitting his job, he feels as though he is taking a stance against the awkward nature of adolescence and defending the well being of the girls. The boy in "Araby" is not as concerned with social issues and often spends his alone time thinking about his girl. He has not reached an age yet where he can identify with similar emotions as his peers. The conversation between the narrator and the girl was casual, but to him, it became his personal mission to find something at the bazaar. Joyce writes, "I wished to annihilate the tedious intervening days. I chafed against the work of school. At night in my bedroom and by day in the classroom her image came between me and the page I strove to read." Joyce demonstrates this narrator's youth and inexperience by revealing his impatience. While Sammy's interaction with the girls lasted only a few minutes, the narrator in "Araby" allows a quick conversation consume his life. Both narrators are taken by the beauty of their respective crushes. Sammy describes the "Queen" as the superior beauty with respect to the other two girls. This once again shows his knowledge of a social hierarchy and each person's place within it. In contrast, the girl in "Araby" is a singular being in the eyes of the narrator. He is not concerned with how she looks in comparison to other girls, only how she appears in his eyes. It is important to note that the narrator is younger than the girl, which also demonstrates his youth and inexperience. Joyce's narrator does not seem as aware of the social hierarchy as his counterpart in "A&P." The two characters share an important bond that ties the two stories together. Both of them suddenly and quickly realize their folly at the end of the stories. In the case of "A&P", Sammy realizes as soon as he walks into the parking lots that his reaction will cost him dearly. Not only is he without a job, but his parents are long-time friends of his former manager. The impact of his decision will affect him both financially and socially. The realization in "Araby" is a more personal matter. Since the narrator has not shared his feelings with anyone else, he is the only one that feels the full weight of his folly. His preoccupation with the bazaar did not affect anyone but himself, and in reality, the girl will probably not care if he returns empty handed. Both characters are left feeling stranded at the end of their stories but due to different outcomes. The point of view in both "A&P" and "Araby" is important to the overall meaning of the stories. Each deals with an event that changes the narrator's perception of love. In "A&P", the narrator sticks up for a publicly scolded group of girls, only to find himself out of work and probably in trouble with his parents. The narrator in "Araby" finds himself alone in a deserted bazaar without any way to connect with the girl he adores. Both of these stories were eventful on the part of the men, but if the female characters told them, the stories would have been completely different. The point of view creates the action and drama in both stories and could not be told in another manner without changing the meaning. Works Cited Joyce, James. "Araby." Fiction the eserver collection. 14 Nov 2008. Updike, John. "A&P" 14 Nov 2008. Read More