Daily puzzle

Put Araby back in order

Seven beats from our edition of Araby by James Joyce, shuffled. Drag them, or use the arrows, until the story runs straight. No account, no streak to lose.

  1. North Richmond Street The boy describes his blind, quiet street, the dead priest’s former house, and the wild garden where he plays with other children in the short winter days.
  2. Mangan’s sister He becomes obsessed with his friend’s sister, watching her doorway each morning and carrying her image through the noisy, hostile streets like a chalice.
  3. A word at last She finally speaks to him, asking if he will go to Araby. Unable to attend herself, she makes the boy vow to bring her something from the bazaar.
  4. Unbearable delay School and home life grow intolerable. The boy can think only of Saturday and the journey, and time seems to mock his impatience.
  5. A ruined evening On the night itself his uncle comes home late, forgetful and drunk, delaying the boy and finally handing over the fare with a careless joke.
  6. Araby closing The boy reaches the bazaar as the lights dim. A bored saleswoman flirting with two men barely attends to him, and the romance curdles into tawdry reality.
  7. Self-recognition Standing in the darkening hall, the boy sees himself as a creature driven and derided by vanity, his eyes burning with anguish and anger.