Comment on the use of light and darkness in "Araby."

I think you have touched upon a very fundamental part of
the symbolism of this story. What fascinates me is that the story begins with lots of
images of light and then as we move ever closer to the crushing epiphany that the
narrator experiences, we have more images of darkness.

Key
to the images of light is the presentation of Mangan's sister, the focus of the
narrator's Romantic dreams:

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She was waiting for us, her figure defined by
the light from the half-opened door.

The light from the
lamp opposite our door caught the white curve of her neck, lit up her hair that rested
there and, falling, lit up the hand upon the
railing.

Both of these images
use light to present Mangan's sister as an almost angelic figure - a suitable receptacle
for all the boy's desires and Romantic dreams.

However, as
the narrator nears Araby, we see more and more images of
darkness:

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Nearly all the stalls were closed and the greater
part of teh hall was in darkness.

The upper part of the
hall was now completely
dark.

It is entirely fitting
then that the narrator should experience his epiphany about the vanity of his hopes and
life in complete darkness, for he has had his illusions and hopes cruelly ripped away
from him, and all but darkness remains:

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Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a
creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and
anger.

Images of light and
darkness thus of course play a central role in establishing and supporting the theme of
this excellent short story.