Art of Epiphanies Explored in Essay

The boys play in the neighborhood streets until their skin "glowed" (382) and their "shouts echoed in the silent street" (382). Here we see a glimpse of Ireland that is not fantastic or glamorous. It is just the kind of setting a young boy needs to be consumed with a mysterious girl. When the narrator finally makes it to the bazaar, he is met with disappointment, which forces him to be honest and realize Mangan is simply a fantasy that will let him down as well. He also realizes he is a "creature driven and derided by vanity" (386). Like Gabriel, he realizes not all things are what they seem

In "Counterparts," the epiphany is painful because it involves us taking a look at a seedier aspect of life. Farrington realizes the dreadful routine in his life. For Farrington, there is no escape from any of the stresses in his life. At work the stress makes his body "ache to do something, to rush out and revel in violence" (58). He spends all of his money drinking and he cannot even win at arm wrestling without cheating. Home offers no respite from his mess of a life. In fact, it seems to agitate him even more, as he becomes frustrated with everything little thing that does not go his way. We see how miserable he truly is and how he is willing to spread that misery at the end of the story.His child, begging for mercy, vowing to say Hail Mary in exchange for no beating uncovers the true nature of this man. Bad living with no dream s can lead to this kind of futile existence.

Epiphanies are essential not only for fiction but for life. Since fiction is about life, it only makes sense that we learn from fiction what we can about life. Some epiphanies are good because they forces individuals to step back and take a look at their circumstances for what they actually are rather than some misguided notion. Like Gabriel, sometimes we need to wake up to realize the world does not revolve around us. Some epiphanies are painful but necessary because we are living creatures with emotions. Like Araby, at some point, we all learn, life is difficult. Farrington teaches us how that difficulty can wear us down is we are diligent is seeking out the best life we can have, defeating obstacles instead of succumbing to them.

Works Cited

Joyce, James. "Araby." The Norton Introduction to Literature. 5th ed. Carl Bain, ed. New York:

W.W. Norton and Company. 1991.

Joyce, James. "Counterparts." Dubliners. New York: Dover Thrift Edition. 1991.

Joyce, James. "The Dead." The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction. Cassill, R.V., ed.….....