Is anyone else's misprinted? Submitted on: 2009-09-27
The book is great, of course, but does anyone else find a jump at page 208 back to page 145? Then when you get to 208 from the jump, it skips immediately to page 273. I can't get my money back now because I've already written in the book, and I'm extremely disappointed that the copy does this.
Beautful prose, but long intervals between interesting ideas Submitted on: 2009-07-03
The writing is most definitely the work of a gifted scribe. The use of language and descriptives is amazing. Unfortunately, large passages of the book are devoted to somewhat demonizing Catholic sermons that make a point, but a long winded one. The two most interesting discussions - What is art? and Do you believe in god/religion? - occur only near the very end of the book.
All looks yellow to the jaundiced eye. Submitted on: 2009-03-16
"A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" tells the story of Stephen Dedalus, and is heavily based on Joyce's own life. It was first published in 1916, and is a rewritten version of "Stephen Hero" - which Joyce gave up on in 1905.
His schooldays were dominated by the Jesuits, having been taught by then in two schools - a single year at Clongowes Wood College, before moving on to Belvedere. Stephen boarded at Clongowes, and it proved a difficult time for him - having previously been educated at home, he dreams of the holidays and has some difficulty in relating to his classmates. The school appears to cater for the well-heeled, and Stephen's departure was (more than likely) caused by a downturn in fortune at home.
However, Stephen enjoys a lengthy summer holiday on leaving Clongowes - come the new school year his new school still hasn't been found. (His parents feel Belvedere was worth the wait - a Jesuit education is seen as something 'refined', much more 'respectable' than the sort provided by the Christian Brothers). He spends much of his free time during that summer with his Great Uncle Charles, training with his athletics coach, Mike Flynn, and having adventures with kids his own age. However, in time, his summer friendships fall victim to their homework-filled evenings, Mike Flynn goes into hospital and the family move away from Blackrock. Worse, Charles - who is late in years - becomes a little disorientated and confused. These changes in Stephen's life throw up a range of emotions - anger, dissatisfaction, and a sense of isolation. He then chooses to cultivate a sense of detachment and takes to sitting on edge of things, taking some strange pleasure in "the joy of his loneliness."
Stephen's faith is something he has difficulty with throughout his teenage years, as he lurches from one extreme to the other. An unquestioning believer in his younger days, he was genuinely shocked when it's suggested that some of his schoolmates at Clongowes had swiped some altar wine. He later loses his way, and spends a great deal of time visiting ladies of negotiable affection - before being ambushed by his conscience and positively terrified by a school retreat at Belvedere. He throws himself whole-heartedly into his repentance...but there is only so much you can cope with when you take things to the extreme.
The choice of Dedalus as a surname is something that appears to be widely commented on. Dedalus is probably best known from Greek mythology as being the father of Icarus, the boy who flew too close to the sun. However, Dedalus was also an architect and inventor who became trapped in a labyrinth he had created himself. Stephen may see a life abroad as a pair of wings, but I would see Stephen's teenage years as the labyrinth he created himself. His refusal to relate to others and form friendships throughout his school years was a conscious choice - one that he made himself, and which made a huge contribution to the difficulties he faced later. His self-imposed isolation had little to do with either his academic abilities, the struggles with his faith, politics or bigotry - to me, it seemed more to do with the belief that he was better than those around him. Cranly, a classmate at university, was the first - and quite possibly only - friend he made. While Dedalus may well have been something of a genius, Cranly had a great deal more in terms of heart and wisdom. At one point, a colleague at university comments "You're a born sneerer, Stevie". Pretentious and self-centred could well have been added.
A Portrait of Someone Familiar Submitted on: 2009-02-26
This book offers a unique perspective on the Catholic faith and its tradition. An Irish boy, Stephen Dedalus, who is brought up expected to believe whatever is presented to him is confronted with a very big problem: accept his faith without question and follow the conventions of his upbringing or pursue his dream to be an artist. Pursuing the path of an artist would make Stephen happy but should he risk alienating his family and fellow Catholics in favor of a dream?
While most of us are not presented with that specific dilemma, we have all experienced a similar situation. Do we dare to be different or just go with the flow? James Joyce has created a very real character in Stephen Dedalus with which all of us can relate to on some level.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a perfectly designed coming of age novel. It follows Stephen Dedalus from his young and impressionable years, incapable of thinking for himself, to his isolation from his peers in family while realizing that his Catholic faith is not all that he thought it was. We see him finally begin to explore his own way of thinking and stop following outdated customs. The inner conflict he faces and his confusion of right is wrong is something that is familiar to all of us and further helps the reader relate to his situation and empathize with the tough choice he must ultimately face at the end of the novel.
FLAT Submitted on: 2009-02-11
I unfortunately found the stories lifeless. There was no spark or wonder to the characters or surroundings.
Is anyone else's misprinted?
Beautful prose, but long intervals between interesting ideas
A Portrait of Someone Familiar