Chapter 7 Foster Journal

Foster insists on the heavy presence of biblical themes in English literature. It can be seen in the short story “Araby”, about a boy’s loss of innocence when he begins to feel the allure of girls. His feelings go beyond moving away from innocence and becomes Idolatry. In the bible, God becomes angry when his chosen people begin to worship Idols, and warns of the danger of putting earthly desires before him: possessions, other gods, relationships. The main character in “Araby” experiences putting his thoughts of a girl above his responsibility: “I had hardly any patience with the serious work of life which, now that it stood between me and my desire, seemed to me child's play, ugly monotonous child's play.” His desire is blatantly above his work for a better future. Later on, he literally puts his desire above religious practices: “My aunt said: 'I'm afraid you may put off your bazaar for this night of Our Lord.'” This obsession, in the end, gets the best of him. He finally makes it to the bazaar to find a gift for the girl, just as the place is closing. He finds nothing to give. He then feels the full weight of confusing his goals: “Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger.”