James Joyce s A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man

The popularity of the coming of age novel in the Twentieth and the Twenty First Centuries reveals a deepening understanding of the impact of childhood and adolescent experiences in the long-term development of adulthood. Such is the case of James Joyce’s A portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, which explores the lasting impact of Steven Dedalus’ boyhood and teenage years on his destiny as an artist. The majority of the novel centres on these early years and draws upon the conventions of the Bildungsroman. The narrative largely is driven by impressionistic and sensory language which initially focuses on Steven’s encounters with the world but eventually turns inwards to focus on his emotional development and understanding of himself.†¦show more content†¦Furthermore Joyce’s purpose is further revealed through his protagonist’s view of the artist. Steven expresses the view of the role of the artist as an individual who chooses to isolate them selves; through the strict focalisation and the stream of consciousness the reader is able to experience Steven’s isolation and the development of his artistic expression (Belanger xxiv). However, as a result of this isolation we are given limited insight into the way Steven is perceived by others. One of the only descriptions given is from his rival at Belvedere, Heron. He says, â€Å"Dedalus is model youth. He doesn’t smoke and doesn’t go to bazaars and he doesn’t flirt and he doesn’t damn anything and damn all.† (Joyce 57). The repetition of doesn’t implies that Steven is reluctant to participate in the world around him, that in fact he does isolate himself from others and to an extent becomes an observer of life. Ultimately, Joyce does not prioritise the perception of Steven by others, choosing to focus on Steven’s perception of himself. The novel opens with the story of the baby tuckoo, which Steven realises is him, â€Å"He was baby tuckoo. The moocow came down the road where Betty Byrne lived† (Joyce 3). This short tale becomes a microcosm the entire novel and sets the tone for a narrative of self-discovery and realisation (Belanger ix). FollowingShow MoreRelatedAnalysis 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 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. 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