James Joyce's novel, Araby, is a story depicting a boy's yearning for romance, as he mentally becomes older. The setting is portrayed in a low-income family where the neighbors are conscious of their appearance. Materialism seems to capture almost all of the characters. Despite the boy's sexual awakenings, he longs for an idealized romance.
             This boy is provoked by a girl's beauty and how she presents herself. This can first be seen when he stares at her when she calls him and Mangan in from playing. As her brother teases her all he can do is watch her. "Her dress swung as she moved her body and the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side." His description is about her appearance, which is all that he knows about her. From this it can be concluded that he desires her beauty which of course attracts most in the beginning of a relationship. Secondly, he fantasizes about her, as would someone infatuated. "Her image accompanied me even in places the most hostile to romance." This suggests that he daydreams about her in a romantic fashion. That he can't get her image out of his head that indicates that he is somewhat in love. Because of his actions or lack of towards this girl, it can be assumed that he craves her affection rather than a sexual instinct.
             His adoration towards her represents her in an angel like way. He seems to put her on a pedestal and never presents any flaws about her. "But my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires." This simile suggests that he can't control himself around her. He allows her to govern his own body, which effects him in more ways known. He also forgets what he said to her because he is so caught up in her beauty. "I forgot whether I answered yes or no." He was so overwhelmed that she finally talked to him, that he didn't think about how he would r...