The loss of innocence is a common theme in culture, realism and fiction in today's world. Loss of innocence is considered a very important stage in which an individual must go through to come of age. This theme is of central importance in both James joyce's “ Araby” and John Updike's “ A&P.” In both stories the narrators reflect an innocence that slowly crumbles away as they begin to be aware of the looming darkness, suffering, evil, and pain that surrounds them. Their awakening to the darkness found in the world was triggered by the presence of a girl, who sparked desire in both of the narrators leading them to do things that they wish they shouldn't have done. In “A and P” Sammy ends up losing his job, which will bring disastrous consequences for him and his low income family and comes to a realization that…show more content… The story is about a young irish boy who lives on a dull dublin street and relays the story of how he fell in love with the sister of his best friend across the street. Throughout the story he expresses his devout admiration by following her to school every morning and describing his fluttering heart as he passes right next to her without saying a word, until one day his crush decides to speak to him and sets him on a quest that will lead him to realize the darkness looming in the world. Powerful religious symbolism revolves around the narrator's quest for Mangan's sister, who symbolizes Virgin Mary and the quest itself represents the narrator's search for the holy grail or love. From the beginning of the story, the narrator seems to confuse Virgin Mary with Magans sister as he reveals his powerful devotion and desire for her and describes her as a “figure defined by the light from the half-opened door” (Joyce, n.p.). This description make the reader think of the warm glow of
