Ireland has always been a country where religion was a deciding factor. In James Joyce's "Araby", we get an up-close look at Irish culture in the early 1900's. "Araby" tells the tale of a young Irish boy who is trying to enter the adult section of his life and fails completely. Joyce uses the theme of disillusionment to great effect throughout the story using it as a technique to prove his point. He does not however limit himself to only that technique and the story is full of religious symbolism and images, light and dark imagery, and sexual references. The main character and therefore the narrator of the story are paralyzed by his religion and he must face this, when he falls in love with Mangan's sister. Joyce proves his point of "oppressive religion" in his story.
             James Joyce uses disillusionment as his main theme throughout the story. Joyce is trying to show that the mood is one of sadness. Joyce writes, "When we met in the streets, the houses had grown sombre". (Joyce p.227) It is quite odd that to describe the disillusionment of a society he personificates homes. It works to great effect and helps him further draw us into the story. Sometime later, the protagonist says," I wish to annihilate the tedious intervening days."(Joyce P, 228) This quote is significant because it shows the disillusionment of the situation that our protagonist must face. The simple event of going to a bazaar is starting to turn this child into a nervous wreck. It is a carefully constructed line. Joyce saves his best for last, "Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity and my eyes burned with anguish and anger". (Joyce P. 230). This quote sums up all the disillusionment that protagonist has to face throughout the story. He is mocked by his vanity for trying to enter the adult world. His anger is released here as he realizes his fate.
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