Araby Character Analysis

The narrator

The protagonist of the story, a young, imaginative boy who lives with his aunt and uncle. The narrator attends a Catholic school (as does essentially every other school age child in Ireland), and is… read analysis of The narrator

The narrator’s uncle

The narrator’s uncle is an authoritative figure who seems to incite a bit of fear in the narrator and his friends, as they routinely hide from him when they see him coming home for dinner… read analysis of The narrator’s uncle

The narrator’s aunt

The aunt is the narrator’s mother figure. She seems to be a very religious Catholic, worrying that the Araby bazaar is a Freemason event. She speaks using religious terms, warning the narrator that he may… read analysis of The narrator’s aunt

Mangan’s Sister

The older sister of the narrator’s friend, Mangan. The narrator has a powerful crush on her. She routinely interrupts the boys playing in the street when she comes outside to call her brother in… read analysis of Mangan’s Sister

The priest

The former tenant of the narrator’s house, who died in the drawing room. He is mentioned because some of his belongings still remain at the house, including three books that the narrator takes interest in… read analysis of The priest

Mrs. Mercer

The pawnbroker’s widow who waits for the narrator’s uncle to come home on the night of the Araby market, presumably to ask for the money he owes her. She is described as an “old… read analysis of Mrs. Mercer

Young female shopkeeper

A young woman who is flirting with two men as the narrator approaches her stall at the Araby bazaar. The narrator notices that she and the men she talks to all have English accents. The… read analysis of Young female shopkeeper

Minor Characters

Mangan

The narrator’s friend from school, possibly based on the Irish romantic poet, James Clarence Mangan. He lives across the street from the narrator and often plays in the street with him and the other boys before dinner.

Araby

James Joyce

Araby Characters