Finding Freedom in "Araby"

Throughout our discussions of Dubliners, the desire for freedom has been a pervading theme. In Araby, the narrator describes the street that where he lives. In doing so, he introduces us to the object of his infatuation - Mangan's sister. He spends every waking moment thinking about her, as everyday tasks such as learning become tedious distractions for him; however, he his unable to express these feelings towards her, let alone approach her. Once she approaches him, they talk about the bazaar, at which point the narrator makes it his sole goal to reach this foreign marketplace. Both the bazaar and the girl represent distinct divergences from the mundane aspects found in Dublin. The idea of something new and different excites the boy, evoking strong feelings of joy; however, they are ultimately thwarted when the narrator runs into difficulty (Uncle's lateness, train delay, bazaar is closed). As his idealized notion of the bazaar fades away, so does his ambition to woo the girl. As seen in Encounter, Joyce integrates an epiphany into the plot. In this case, it is negative, as the boy chooses to give up on his love. Joyce conveys that the pursuit of love and contentedness is a foolish concept - a disheartening critique of society. Why do you think Joyce chooses to keep the narrator's name out of the story? Why does the narrator view himself with such contempt at the end of the story, calling himself a creature? (24)