“Araby” by James Joyce and “Death in the woods” by Sherwood Anderson are short stories that are written by different writers. However, there are some common and different features that are applicable to both works. Both of the works are similar in their genre and focus on the female character, but on the other hand, they are very different from each other in themes.
Short stories “Araby” and “Death in the woods” are very similar in the way they are structured. Both authors are using a male narrator for their stories. The stories are told from the first person perspective. The reader is able to see an introduction, main body and the ending of the story. “John Freimarck explains the meaning of the title “Araby” that it takes a boy to the world of “romance and summer” (Freimarck 366). In the short story “Araby”, a narrator introduces us to a girl that he falls in love with. After that, the author moves into the details how the narrator would follow her and all the other events that would be going on in narrator’s life. At the end of the story, a reader is able to find out that this attempt of young love has been unsuccessful for the narrator, but there is still hope. The short story “Death in the woods” sounds more like a mystery story because a reader encounters death of an old woman who happens to be the focus of the narrator’s story. However, in this story, this woman is being described as “nothing special” (Anderson Web). She is a person who is likely to be ignored by the crowd. The climax of the story happens when the reader figures out that the woman is dead. Towards the end of the story, the reader gets more details about how a narrator got to know this story himself. The way a narrator sees this murder changes as he grows older. At the same time, he happens to add more details to the death of Mrs. Grimes as he becomes an adult.
Both of the stories have a female character as a focus of the story. “Araby” looks at Mangan’s sister whom he happens to like. He is observing her from his window on the daily basis. After that, he starts following her on the street. One day they talked for a little bit and she mentioned that she needs to purchase some goods from a Dublin’s bazaar. The narrator is willing to help her out. But towards the end of the story, he does not make it on time to the bazaar and feels very upset about his emotions to Mangan’s sister. Therefore, one of the key characters is Mangan’s sister who is loved by the narrator. He is shy to talk about his feeling to her. At the end, the reader is left with an open ending because it is never said whether they have ever seen each other again or not. The only fact that a reader gets to know is that narrator was not happy because “I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity, and my eyes burned with anguish and anger” (Joyce Web). Also, “Death in the woods” has a focus on a female character who is happened to be found dead in the woods. The whole life of Mrs. Grimes is being described. But the narrator never talks to this female character. However, there is more mystery to “Death in the woods” since the narrator is constantly questioning himself how he knows this woman and the details of her life. This female character does not seem to have a very happy life. At first, she was working at the farm where she was constantly abused. After she got married, her life did not change a lot. Even though both of the authors use female characters as a focus of the story but they present different meaning and roles.
On the other hand, both stories “Araby” and “Death in the woods” have different main themes. “Death in the woods” story does not talk about this woman with a lot of respect “All country and small-town people have seen such old women, but no one knows much about them” (Anderson Web). Throughout the whole story, the reader gets the idea that Mrs. Grimes did not live a life that she deserved. She was a woman who was taking care of her family. Her character can be interpreted as a provider for her family. She is a mother in this story who is trying to take care and provide for her husband and son. However, her maternal role does not seem to be appreciated by her family. But when we read “Araby”, a female character has a different role in this story. A narrator has romantic feelings for Mangan’s sister. Also, even though it seems that “Araby” does not have a happy ending. The reader does not know for sure whether the narrator will ever meet this girl again. She still stays alive, unlike Mrs. Grimes who is definitely dead and there is nothing that can bring her back to life. Therefore, “Araby” leaves a hope to a reader that everything can be fixed and the situation can change for the narrator. However, “Death in the woods” does not give a reader any hope that the situation will change for better for Mrs Grimes. She is doomed to have a sad life and die in the woods. While love to Mangan’s sister has a chance to live.
In conclusion, it is important to state that “Araby” by James Joyce and “Death in the woods” by Sherwood Anderson” have a lot of differences and similarities in plot. Both of the stories tell a story from the narrator’s perspective. However, at the same time in “Araby,” the narrator happens to participate in the story himself while in “Death in the woods” the narrator is simply retelling the story. Also, both of the stories have a female character as a focus of the story. In “Araby” it is Mangan’s sister and in “Death in the Woods” is Mrs. Grimes. But both of the storylines are very different. For instance, in “Araby” a reader cannot know for sure if it is the end of the relationship. While in “Death in the woods” a reader is certain that there is no comeback for Mrs. Grimes. Therefore, “Araby” by James Joyce and “Death in the woods” by Sherwood Anderson” that have similarities in the choice of characters, but the storylines are quite different.
Works Cited
Anderson, S. Death in the Woods. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2017.
Joyce, J. Araby. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2017.
Freimarck, John. “‘Araby’: A Quest for Meaning.” James Joyce Quarterly, vol. 7, no. 4, 1970,
pp. 366–368. www.jstor.org/stable/25486867.
