Expansion on chalice/religion

The idea of religion is a very prevalent theme in “Araby” and it holds a lot of meaning to the narrator. A chalice is traditionally referred to in religious aspects, and has been used in the bible since the 1300s. This idea of religion also pops up multiple times throughout the text of “Araby”. Another significant religious aspect of the story is the fact that a priest died in the narrator’s home. Religion is the ultimate form of transcendence because those who are believers believe that there is something beyond the nature world entirely, and they look to this higher force to guide them. It would make sense that this is included in the story “Araby” because it’s this transcendence from the natural world that is exactly what the narrator is looking for. It would also make sense that he would refer to Mangan’s sister as a “chalice” which is highly religious because it affirms the fact that she is the symbol of a higher power. In the Christian religion, a chalice is used to hold ceremonial wine, which is something very sacred. Therefore, a chalice is meant to hold something very sacred and holy. That is why I think that in the story Mangan’s sister is described as a chalice, because she means something very sacred and holy to the narrator. The priest’s death in his own home could mean that the narrator’s hope for transcendence from his life is dead in a way, which could be why he turns to Mangan’s sister to re-kindle that hope.