After reading the first four stories of the Dubliners, there is no doubt that all the stories have something very unique to them. Each story seems to focus on an epiphany in which the characters are strongly affected. The first story, "The Sisters", deals with death. The young boy in "The Sisters" is struck by the death of friend Father Flynn. In the second story, "An Encounter" these two boys decide to "escape" and skip school for a day and walk through Dublin. The two boys meet an older man who talks to the boys in rather disturbing fashion. This story exhibits the fact that new experiences can end up being very disturbing. After the first two stories it is apparent that James Joyce likes to write about the dark sides of life. In the third story, "Araby" James Joyce suggests that all people look for love and new life experiences in various aspects. Araby is a bazaar to which Magan's sister wants to go. The narrator, promises Magan to bring her a gift from this bazaar. In the end of the story the boy realizes his foolish dreams. The fourth story, "Eveline" deals with the struggles of holding onto the past when looking into the future. This story, like the others stories, has a strong meaning to it.