Coming of Age
Both Araby by James Joyce, and A&P by John Updike, are similar in that they discuss the coming of age of young men who are infatuated with the opposite sex. Both stories discuss the universal theme of boys entering manhood and the maturity with which each young man leaves the last stage of his adolescence and steps into adulthood. Both of the narrators of James Joyce?s Araby and John Updike?s A&P are young boys who experience disillusionment in their ideals. However, there are many different factors that contribute to their respective struggles with coming of age.
The main character of Araby is a young boy just coming into his middle teens. He comes from a religious upbringing, lives in a quiet neighborhood and is extremely respectful of his elders. He loves to read, as is evident by his liking ?The Memoirs of Vidocq? (Joyce 728) and enjoys cherished, passed down literature as ?its leaves (have become) yellow (pg. 728)? over time. He is also a good student, except when his thoughts are occupied by his best friend?s sister who also lives in his neighborhood. He is infatuated with her ?Her image accompanied me even
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