A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man

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Summary: Joyce's Golden Phrases
Review: Following the plot of "A Portrait" is like trying to chase a fish through a murky, moss-covered swamp pond. Understanding the meanings in the work is as simple as clearly seeing the bottom of this same pool. The reader can feel the great depth of this bayou-book by the height of the clammy, chilling water on his body. Even when he has finally climbed out of the pond, moss and other marks cling to him. The reader can feel too the power of the work by the invisible, unmistakable currents and swirls that unceasingly surround him through his chase.
Why would someone read this book, a book with difficult plot and meaning, and unclear, intimidating depth and power? Obvious gold nuggets glint beneath the water, felt beneath the reader's feet, seen amidst sometimes muddy chapters: they are Joyce's masterful short phrases. They compel the reader forward, delighting him as he fumbles after the fish, chasing after this elusive, wriggling rainbow trout, a leprechaun leading to more gold. The imagery and alliteration of Joyce's short phrases force the reader on to each next page, and assure him that the tiring toil of draining this swamp is an effort well rewarded.
The entire mural of "A Portrait" may seem abstract and unclear, but the delicate images, the stinging images, the firm and the flimsy images--each is an intimately executed brushstroke or a perfectly mixed color that enchants the reader. These are the glinting nuggets hiding in the pond, chunks of pure lyric beauty. The images stick in your mind and haunt you like some catchy tune; the make you want to stride on onto the beach and run "far out over the sands, singing wildly to the sea" (123). To find these nuggets a perceptive reader will soon be "scraping the air from before his eyes with one hand as though he were tearing aside a cobweb" (25), hunting with fervency. He will wander "the dark, slimy streets peering into the gloom of lanes and doorways" (70). Even taken completely out of context as above, these "eerily convincing portrayals," as R.B. Kershner calls them, retain their majesty. And though an understanding of much of the novel may be as solid and stable as a dancing fire, "Above the flame the smoke of praise/ Goes up from ocean rim to rim" (159).
Joyce pleases the mind's eye, yes; but the mind's ear is his true workshop. His symphonic work has an enormous scope, but each alliterative phrase rises up from the orchestral noise as a melody to be inhaled. "Little, fiery flakes fell" (101);
"the warm, sunny city outside" (62); "the candlestick with its tendrils of tallow" (159). Here the gold nuggets come so thick that surely they comprise a vein that the reader must mine. They permeate "A Portrait", filling it: "cast down by the dull phenomenon of Dublin" (54); "darker than the swoon of sin, softer than sound or odour" (71); "stirring his soul slowly from its listless despair" (79). I will let the examples speak for themselves as they speak to the listening reader.
If the reader will feel each atom of gold, each artistic phrase, as he chases the elusive fish of plot, the swamp of confusion covering "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" will begin to drain, as Virginia Woolf's affirms in her commentary of the book. "Let us record the atoms as they fall upon the mind in the order in which they fall, let us trace the pattern, however disconnected and incoherent in appearance, which each sight or incidence scores upon the consciousness." And until those patterns become clear and the mossy water flows away, simply enjoy the gold glinting at us from below, radiant under Joyce's illuminating talent.

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Summary: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Review: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, by James Joyce is the story of a young man struggling to grow up and rise above the political, religious, and patriotic cords that bind him down. The book begins with Stephen reflecting on his childhood until he grows up to be a man with his own views. The story takes place in Ireland when there was much confusion in religion and politics. Stephen Dedalus was raised in a very patriotic home, which was also devoutly Catholic. Stephen, however, struggles with the strong views of his family and church. He doesn't quite know if he agrees with everyone around him. Throughout his life Stephen and his family have to move to different houses because of financial problems. This also causes Stephen to have to change schools, and become involved with different types of people. While he is changing schools externally, internally he is also changing; he is becoming a young man with ideas uniquely his own. Growing up is a great challenge for Stephen, he is thrown into many different situations and has people all around him trying to tell him what to think, and what to do with his life. He goes from having his first unexpected sexual relationship to feeling the awful guilt of his sins. Then he goes from wanting to become a priest to realizing that all he wants to do is get out of Ireland, and become his own expressive, unique self through art. He is not close minded to what people tell him, but he doesn't agree with what they tell him and he doesn't feel that it is for him. There is great symbolism and imagery in this book. There is a current theme of water and of birds. It is as if Stephan admires the birds, but they are also those in which "pull out his eyes ". They pull out his eyes because he wants so badly to be a bird and fly away, but can't because too many things are preventing him from flying away. Stephen wants to rise above the water and the filth of his life, this water and filth can be considered the church and political issues that occupy his and his family's lives. He wants to become like Dedalus and build himself wings to fly away; in the end of the book he does fly away, and a new life awaits him.

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Summary: More info than LuckyCharms boxes:novel on an Irish ubringing
Review: Every March, we celebrate St. Patrick's Day. We wear green so no one will pinch us. In elementary schools, we read Irish folklore about leprechauns and shamrocks. When we grow up, we learn about the "troubles" and the centuries-long conflict between the Protestants and Catholics, but our knowledge of Ireland tends to stop there.

Perhaps the next best thing to kissing the Blarney Stone in order to have a taste of Ireland would be to read James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

In this work, largely through various vignettes, we observe the growth and development of the "artist" Stephen Dedalus. (He is not to be confused with Stephen Dedalus of Ulysses, but he may have been named after the Daedalus of Greek mythology.) We begin with his childhood, at the beginning of his formal education, and the portrait James Joyce provides fades when he is an adult.

Although the novel is relatively short, please do not suppose that it can be read quickly. Just like it would be foolish to endure a long wait in the Louvre and then glance at the small Mona Lisa for only a second and walk away, in order to appreciate this book, you will need to dedicate some time and thought.

A Portrait is rich in detail, creating vivid images that bring the pages to life. Be sure to notice the imagery. Artists often have dexterous hands, and hands are observed throughout the book. Other recurring symbols are roses, birds, and water. There are several contrasts--cold and hot, wet and dry, unpleasant and comfortable, and distressed and happy, among others. White, red, and green are important hues that regularly appear.

James Joyce is expert at "showing not telling." The masterful use of detail and imagery attest to Joyce's skill in writing. In this book, he also employs new techniques that are more developed in later works, innovations that set him apart in the evolution of modern English fiction. For example, in A Portrait, we find several examples of stream-of-consciousness narrative. Fortunately for the reader, it is not as difficult to follow as passages in other books that employ the technique more intensively. It also serves as another manner in which Joyce skillfully presents Dedalus's growth. The first part of the book is more random and hard to understand (like the thoughts of a young child) while the forms of expression change until the end of the novel, which is written as organized concise journal entries.

Perhaps A Portrait resembles a journal of the author himself to a certain extent. Both Joyce and Dedalus were Irish and educated at Jesuit schools. They later changed their perceptions of the Catholic church and also left Ireland. Furthermore, both the author and the protagonist faced financial problems and had impaired vision. They also had peers that admired their work as thoughtful and clever literary artists.

In addition to taking the time to look for imagery, brushing up on the history of Ireland may be helpful in order to more fully enjoy A Portrait. However, it may be enough just to know that Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-1891) was an Irish nationalist leader that was popular until 1889, when the public learned of his adulterous affair with Katherine O'Shea.

Personally, when I read A Portrait, my enjoyment of the book declined somewhat after Chapter II, when Dedalus is a teenager and engages in immoral activity. Perhaps I lost some interest because I could not relate as well to the main character, or maybe it was because I did not like the different attitude of the "grown up" Dedalus. It also seems that the action slows down somewhat near the end.

However, upon finishing the book, we have a well-developed picture of the life of Stephen Dedalus (and possibly James Joyce, as was mentioned earlier). Thanks to the excellent imagery and thorough detail, we feel as if we had traveled to Ireland and even developed a relationship with Dedalus. As with carefully prepared portraits, in observing them, we notice subtle aspects of the subjects, the creators, our neighbors, and ourselves. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a four-leaf clover worth picking.

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Summary: A thought provoking novel
Review: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is one of the more complex books, from a reader's standpoint, in that it doesn't move along in a logical fashion. However, this shouldn't dissuade you from reading it. There is much to be learned in the semi-autobiographical novel by James Joyce. It is the story of a young boy and his experiences growing up in Ireland. The age of the main character (Stephen Dedalus) at the beginning of the novel is not known. But it can be inferred that he is probably between 6-9 years old. The book continues with his life experiences, from his point of view, until he is in his late teen years. There is much to be learned about life in Ireland, the role of the church and politics in a boy's life, and the development of a young man as he grows up from this novel.

The literary techniques used in this novel are very interesting, no doubt ideas from an extremely talented writer, but it is these techniques that can leave a reader easily wondering what's going on. The language of the novel itself progresses with the maturity of the main character. The book begins with small snap-shots of young Stephen's life. The ideas put forth in the first few pages are ideas that you might expect from the mind of a young grade school child. Unfortunately these ideas are also as random as you might expect from a young child and it is sometimes hard to follow the plot. Thankfully as the novel progresses it becomes more structured in its presentation and is much easier to understand. In fact, at the end of the story, the novel is written as entries from a journal. Some of the images that Joyce uses throughout his novel are birds, water, hands, and the color white. It is interesting to look at how Stephen's perception of these different images changes as the novel progresses.

The issues of religion and politics play a large role in this novel. I am not very familiar with the politics or religious conflicts that existed in Ireland during the time period when this book was written. It would be helpful to be aware of these issues while reading this book, as they are very central to the plot. It was interesting even with a lack of knowledge to see a young boy's perception of the Catholic Church and also to see how his perception changed as the novel progressed.

Another interesting thing that I found while reading "Portrait" was how Stephen was constantly trying to find somewhere to fit in. He seemed to be an outcast throughout the book, finally at the end deciding to leave his country and religion behind. I didn't like the ending because it seemed to me that he was just running away from his problems. This seems to be a common problem today and I didn't like the fact that it was romanticized in "Portrait".

I was required to read this book as part of an English class and I can honestly say that it is a book that I would not have read otherwise. It had its good points and was definitely thought provoking but I don't feel that I would highly recommend it. One thing that might be helpful in reading this book would be to look at some commentary of the book before attempting to read it. That way, you could be familiar with what to look for rather than plodding along (as I did) for much of the book trying to figure out what's going on.

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Summary: My Humble Opinion
Review: James Joyce is a hero. Writing with a exceptionally unique style that fits the corresponding drama perfectly, he is able to involve several underlying themes that help advance the meaning of the book. The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is rich in detail and offers vital insights into Joyce?s art of portraying the internal struggles that all of us face within the drama of a single character, Stephen Dedalus. Perhaps the most salient brilliance of Joyce?s ability is painting the picture of simbolism and theme to allow the reader to internalize everything he reads.
The book opens in a rather ambiguous way. Jumbled phrases across the opening pages provoke images of confusion and disorder in the reader?s mind. Joyce masters the Stream of Consciousness style of writing, which reflects the spontaeous thought process that all of us experience. It is especially notable at the beginning when he describes the unfocused thoughts of the baby Stephen. With a light touch of humor Joyce reminds us how simple life was for all of us back then when all we had to worry about was the discomfort of ?wetting the bed?
(Portrait 1).
The reader then re-lives his life as he joins in with Stephen?s. We are first exposed to the unjust treatment from others when the bully Wells shoves Stephen into the nearby cesspool. The imagery is more than intense here when he comes out of the pool grimy, disgusting, and smelling like a sewer. Joyce even pencils in the detail about rats wallowing around in the pool. The theme of unjustice continues as Stephen is punished publicly for losing his glasses, something that he had no control over. The Catholic Father Dolan flogs him across the hands for ?intentionally? losing them so he wouldn?t have to study.
Another interesting piece of information that James Joyce includes for the benefit of the reader putting himself in the place of Stephen is the theme of physical beauty. Stephen experiences love all throughout the piece, starting first with the innocent love notes that he writes to a small girl his age, building to the prostitute with whom he has his first sexual experience, and culminating finally with the woman on the beach who he is infatuated with. This sexual passion arouses sympathetic feelings within the reader from all backgrounds. Everyone has experienced that true feeling of wanting to be with someone else.
My favorite part in the story is how Joyce deals with the issue of remaining true to religion, particularly the Catholic Church. Stephen is troubled by the fact that there is so much corruption within the church. He sees the imperfections within the church, but yet he somehow continues. Other characters present Joyce with the opportunity to let us look deep into the heart of Stephen and examine how he struggles. Much of Joyce?s audience has struggled with the decision of remaining true to the Catholic Church in spite of its many corruptions, or pioneering a new generation of religious loyalty elsewhere.
Towards the end of the novel Joyce touches on a reoccuring theme: freedom. Being free from religion as well as being free from Ireland (or the restraints that bound some individual). Again Joyce delicately works his way into the lives of his readers; all are faced with decisions of leaving their past lives, whether they be entrapped in the pits of smoking or the despair of being overweight, all of the readers of Jame Joyce are faced with that decision sooner or later. Stephen sees his escape from the island with drawing back to strength from the Greek artisan Dedalus, who crafted his own wings to escape. It seems that all of us somehow need to draw on strength from the past to give us motivation for the future. Many rely on examples from their parents. Others trust in counsel and advice given through the scriptures. All are in search of help from the past to live a better future.
All in all, Joyce masters his work and is able to assist the reader in making his own decisions in his own life while doing it through the life of his central character. If I were anything but American, I might consider moving to Ireland.

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Summary: Masterful Writing
Review: A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man is not an easy read by any means, but it is a worthwhile read by all means. The plot focuses on the growth and development of Stephen Dedalus, an intelligent Irish boy born into a poor family. One of the most interesting features of the book is that it is considered to be a "self-portrait of the artist" by most experts. The events of author James Joyce's life mirror those of young Dedalus well. This makes for a fascinating read considering Joyce's prominent position in the writing world.
The writing styles and techniques Joyce uses are expert. The writing level begins at a level that a small child would use, and increases in sophistication through the book as Dedalus grows older and becomes more educated. The pinnacle of the writing is Dedalus' narration about his theories of art and beauty near the end of the book, about the time he is to leave the university and Ireland altogether. The beautiful language of the narration is a work art by its own merit, and I highly recommend reading it whether or not you read The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man in its entirety.
Among the various things to look for while reading "Portrait" are the reoccurring images of water, birds, and the colors white and red. Specifically, pay attention to Dedalus' perceptions of these things, and how his perceptions change as the book moves forward. Two other common topics surfacing throughout the novel are politics and religion. Ever since a bitter argument about politics and religion broke out among his family at Christmas dinner, Dedalus has been wary of the subjects. This makes for conflict because the church and politics are at the forefront of the educated minds he is associating with.
Lastly, when reading this book, consider how it relates Irish nationalism and Ireland's struggle to find its place in the world of art and culture. Although this is not such an obvious theme, it is interesting to note how many of the characters are concerned with what Ireland is, where it is going, and how best to improve it.
Because the reading can be so heavy in The Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man, I recommend referring to some sort of an explanatory or summary essay to supplement your reading...

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Summary: Valuable as a precursor
Review: There's a reason why Stephen wasn't the main character in "Ulysses." While his hypersensitivity, acute intellectualism and quasi-pretentious ideas about the aesthetics of poetry and Shakespeare are attractive from a distance, his callow arrogance and sarcasm are ultimately off-putting. Leopold Bloom, for me, is the greatest character in 20th century literature because his age has brought him qualities that the post-adolescent Stephen can only ponder or mock: humility, inquisitiveness and a love for his wife that can withstand the challenges of Blazes Boylan.
I don't mean to disparage "A Portrait" by claiming its worth lies primarily in its position as a precursor to "Ulysses," but it really is dwarfed by that book and Joyce's masterpiece, "Finnegans Wake." Here, the prose experiments are clumsy and frustrating: take, for example, the romantic drivel about birds, dew and Eileen in chapters four and five; while Joyce might have intended this second-rate Yeats impersonation to demonstrate how Stephen's naivete is struggling with new ideas, it's fairly embarrassing nonetheless. The journal entries are kind of cool as a taste of what would soon come in "Ulysses," but they come off a bit dry.
I found Stephen much more likeable before his decision to repent in the third chapter. Before, he had to struggle with the conflict in his soul between the pleasures of the brothel and eternal damnation. This was also before he became stubbornly confident in his own self-righteousness, and I can believe that the feelings he describes are painfully real. Afterwards, he briefly becomes a priggish repentant, and then the climax of the novel comes when he throws off the yoke of the priesthood and embraces the sight of Eileen stroking the sea-water "hither and thither" (a delicious reminder of the much more appealing ALP in the "Wake").
Eileen is now kept in the distance as Stephen prattles endlessly about Aristotle and Aquinas, his precious individuality and his oncoming exile. His friends are intelligent but boorish and scornful. By the end of the novel, Stephen is ready to embark on his artistic journey, but I couldn't help noticing how cynical his final journal entries sounded.
Joyce is the master novelist of the past century, and even his mediocre work is woven with the threads that would continue in his two final novels. "A Portrait..." remains a fascinating though curiously empty tale of a young man growing detached from his senses and beliefs.

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Summary: A fat load of tripe.
Review: James Joyce is the most unreadable author to ever have been washed into xistance from the womb of Ireland. It is an indication of the non-relevance of education today, that this book is required reading for many of our youths. This novel belongs on the mantle of some poor sod who can't find anything better to do with his time other than perhaps wacking himself repeatedly on the genitals with a blunt object ad infinitum. Beleive me, thsi book is less painful, but only in that it ENDS. Avoid it at all costs, and punch anyone who recommends it to you square in the gob.

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Summary: amazing
Review: i put off reading portrait for a couple years, i do not know what i was thinking. i really connected with stephen dedalus.

a little background on myself:
12 years of catholic schools where i was fairly poor compared to the rest of my schoolmates while being fairly more intelligent than a lot of my schoolmates. so i could really feel for young dedalus.

this book is a powerful and amazing story of vocation, love, growing up and flying away. some parts are difficult and some background in catholicism and theology probably help, but you will be glad that you stuck it out. truly a classic work of literature.

now on to Ulysses!

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Summary: worthwhile for obvious reasons
Review: Jimmy could write. Before there's any comment on theme and subtext and ideas, it is important to acknowledge the form and the style.

This is incredible, the overwhelming passion and the rhythmic dances that bleat their rosy horns so loudly even the staunchest athiest is gonna be thinking 'voice of God . . .'

The story is full and vivid, a tale of youth and important decisions about life. On a more profound level it questions private moral judgment and alligence to God. The choices are priesthood or independence, ultimately, as the boy doesn't 'abandon' the church so much as walk outside and try to find something else in life. This is the basic arc of the story.

Realization, sadly, is often a dull and irrelevent experience in the retelling no matter how much you spruce it up with moo-cows and tuckoo.