ndness in the first three lines. These are a description of the physical area in which the protagonist lives. “North Richmond Street, being blind, was a quiet street…” (p. 197) This creates a sense that the protagonist lives in a self-imposed bubble separating him from the outside world.As the story opens we get a quick glimpse at Mr. Farrington and his crumbling identity, “His eyes bulged forward slightly and the whites of them were dirty.” (p.225) Similar to Araby this suggests a sense of isolation from the outside world, since the window panes from which he perceives the world are soiled.“I will bring you something” (p.199) this is the Romantic mission the protagonist of “Araby” views he must quest for in order to win his unrequited love. Farrington has closed himself to the outside world not allowing for opportunity to relate to it. Self is defined by the way one relates and feels about the outside world. Farrington is shown as insular “I might as well be talking to the wall as talking to you.” (P.225) says his boss Mr. Allyene of Farrington. Farrington is a lost man who has no definition of self. Therefore he seeks consolation in escape, through his drinking; “he felt that he must slake the thirst in his throat.”(p.226) Like the Romantic mission of the hero from “Araby,” Farrington is on his own mission of escape. Joyces portrayal of loss of identity parallels that of a snowball rapidly gaining force and momentum.He does this through a series of events over the period of a day. The three specific events he mentally reviews before his inevitable decay. The first symbol that marks Farringtons decay, occurs directly after his antagonistic encounter with his boss. Promptly Through the pursuit of the protagonists prescribed mission, Joyce shows the prevalence of human truth, through decay. Specifically that of the decay of external and internal f...
