An examination of the physical spaces in James Joyce's "Araby" as representations of guilt, lust and sex.

In James Joyce's "Araby" various spaces are used to symbolize guilt, lust and sex. The narrator's desire to venture from home in order to attend a Bazaar, Araby, parallel his desire have his first sexual experience. The narrator's home is a place of religious type guilt and secret lust, as represented by the artifacts of a dead but sexed priest who once lived in the house. As Araby is the farthest point from home to …

…of the story, as in the beginning, the narrator is trapped by the powerful forces of the house; those of lust and guilt. The narrator is forced out blindly into his own sexuality and is dragged back to the house for the guilt which inevitably awaits him. As long as the narrator is at home he is fated to live in the style of the priest with a lustful sexuality veiled by guilt and religion.