James JoyceA Portrait of the Artist Essay - 2395 Words

James Joyce:A Portrait of the Artist Few people, if any, in the twentieth century have inspired as much careful study and criticism as James Joyce. His work represents a great labyrinth which many have entered but none have returned from the same. Joyce himself is a paradoxical figure, ever the artist, ever the commoner. He has been called the greatest creative genius of our century and, by some, the smartest person in all of history. His most famous novel, Ulysses, is considered by many to be the greatest novel ever written. Beyond all of these superlatives lies a perfect case study in the creative mind and process. Joyce was born in a Dublin suburb on February 2, 1882 to John Stanislaus Joyce and Mary Jane Joyce. He was the first†¦show more content†¦This was a sharp contrast to Irish society at the time which was, for the most part, very devout. It is also interesting to note that John Joyces frequency of appearance in his sons books is only second to the appearance of James himself. This demonstrates the influential role which John played in his sons life. Evidence of Joyces early obsession with language and words can be found in his semi-autobiographical novel, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. In the beginning of this book, young Stephen, the name Joyce chose for himself, wonders about the word belt. That was a belt round his pocket. And belt was also to give a fellow a belt, Stephen thinks. The dual meaning intrigues him. In April of 1893 Father John Conmee, who had been the rector at Clongowes and was now prefect of studies at Belvedere College, another Jesuit school, arranged for James and his brothers to attend Belvedere without charge. Here he read voraciously in European literature, discovering the works of Henrik Ibsen, Dante, Flaubert and others who would remain his literary idols for life. Joyce did well at Belvedere, and graduated from there in 1898. That summer was a very important one in Joyces life. For some time he had been having impure thoughts and feelings and decided finally to throw off the hypocrisy of the church. He began visiting brothels in Dublin, experimenting with his awakening sexuality. ThisShow MoreRelated Stephen in A Portrait of the Artist by James Joyce Essay2469 Words   |  10 PagesStephen in A Portrait of the Artist by James Joyce Stephen Dedalus, the main character in most of James Joyces writings, is said to be a reflection of Joyce himself. In A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, the reader follows Stephen as he develops from a young child into a young artist, overcoming many conflicts both internally and externally, and narrowly escaping a life long commitment to the clergy. Through Joyces use of free indirect style, all of Stephens speech, actions, andRead MoreA Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man By James Joyce1929 Words   |  8 Pages What is the name of your work? What is the author’s name? When and where does it take place? A Portrait of The Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce is a semi-autobiographical novel that takes place in Ireland during a surge of political reformation, and calls for separation from England during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Describe your response to reading this novel. Was the novel absorbing? Burdensome? Aligned with your expectation? Not? Was there a difference in your usual reading, since thisRead MoreJames Joyce s A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man1720 Words   |  7 PagesTwenty First Centuries reveals a deepening understanding of the impact of childhood and adolescent experiences in the long-term development of adulthood. 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Stephen brought up in the CatholicRead MoreMy Understanding Of A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man By James Joyce1029 Words   |  5 Pagesreinforced by reading How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster. There are different stages of comprehension. Authors and readers utilize both experiences and prior knowledge quite often. My understanding of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man By James Joyce was vastly impacted after reading Foster’s book. Instead of just reading the novel, I dove deeper into the text. Originally I might have just said the novel was simply a sort of biography. Instead I would consider it a searchRead MoreAnalysis Of James Joyce s A Portrait Of An Artist As A Young Man Essay2057 Words   |  9 PagesJames Joyce and H.G. Wells had different styles of writing and relied on different forms of narration. H.G. Wells was direct and focused on the ext ernal environment or situation. He did not give much insight on the thoughts or internal struggle of his characters, while James Joyce did. Joyce supplied his characters with a greater level of internal comprehension than Wells did and was able to provide more human like characters. This difference is especially seen in H.G Well’s Tono-Bungay and JamesRead MoreAnalysis Of James Joyce s A Portrait Of An Artist As A Young Man Essay1953 Words   |  8 PagesJames Joyce and H.G. Welles had different styles of writing and relied on different forms of narration. H.G. Wells was direct and focused on the external environment or situation. He did not give much insight on the thoughts or internal struggle of his characters, while James Joyce did. Joyce supplied his characters with a greater level of internal comprehension than Wells did and was able to provide more human like characters. This difference is especially seen in H.G Well’s Tono-Bungay and JamesRead MoreAnalysis Of James Joyce s Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man2299 Words   |  10 Pagescontrol by the Catholic Church provided structure and stability in their lives, for others it was a source of major struggle and inner conflict. James Joyce found the Catholic Church’s power to be both overwhelming and repressive. In his Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, we see his inner struggle portrayed through the main character Stephen Dedalus. Like Joyce, Stephen struggles throughout his childhood and adolescence with the rigidity and severity of the Catholic Church. Initially, Stephen blindlyRead MoreAnalysis Of James Joyce s Portrait Of An Artist As A Young Man2639 Words   |  11 Pages2016 Organized Religion: an Impediment to Human Fulfillment In Catholicism, religious beliefs are determined by the sacred scripture and tradition. These beliefs offer a comprehensive and definitive explanation of the nature of God. James Joyce s Portrait of An Artist as a Young Man is a narration of the transition from childhood to adulthood of the protagonist, Stephen Dedalus, who grows up in a Catholic society and family life in Ireland. Because of the nature of his church s role in his life