Comparison of protagonists in Araby and A&P

John Updike's "A&P" and James Joyce's "Araby" are very alike. The theme of the two stories centers on a young men who are concerned over thinking out the dissimilarity between reality and the imaginations of romance that dance in their heads. They also examine their mistaken thoughts on their respective world, the girls they encounter, and most importantly, themselves. One of the main comparable aspects of the two stories is the built up of the main characters' idealistic expectations of women. Both characters set their sights on one girl which they place all their fondness in. Both Sammy and the boy were rebuffed in the end. Both stories do a good job of immersing the reader into unstable minds of young men faced with difficult life lessons. In their instance being, life is not what one expects.

Continuing the comparison in both "Araby" and "A&P," the stories are written in first person narrative. The difference lies in "A&P" and the knowledge the reader gets of the protagonists identity through his name, Sammy, whereas in "Araby" there is no formal introduction, not even for the young woman he is enamored with. In each instance however, the men in the stories endeavor to rise up and astonish the young ladies by proposing something they recognize to be of value to the women. How they do this is varied but still very similar. Sammy preserves the integrity of the young women in connection to their bathing suit apparel; in "Araby," a charm is guaranteed or pledged. Both young men do not succeed in their missions.

As for the revelations, Samy jumped to the liberation of the young women by abandoning his job under some misinterpretation that by protecting their "honor," he would have bestowed upon him that which he "liberated." The reality is that was never, no matter what he did, have an opportunity to be with these summer vacationers. He saw women that he could not romantically reach but felt that performing certain actions would grant him access to them. This however was not the case and it was shown clearly in the end of the story.

The character in "Araby" spoke with the young woman and assured her he would bring a trinket worthy of her possession from the bazaar. When he arrived at the bazaar, he came too late to have an opportunity to find that "expressive" symbolic representation of his feelings, albeit, an inexpensive one. This caused him to not meet his goal. And nevertheless, here too, the recompense he pursued would not have been established either, as the young woman was a member of the convent and therefore not an eligible woman for development of a romantic relationship.

The foundations of both of that characters in the two stories actions were the sentiments they felt towards young women they could not reach. Both acted hurriedly in speaking, both were unsuccessful in becoming the heroes they wished-for themselves to be. The foundations of their actions also almost seem inappropriate. What becomes significant is the level of consciousness they themselves gained from their experiences. That is what makes both the stories engaging and worthwhile. The men learn something about themselves and the readers learn the nature of things.