A Portrait of the Artist as a Young man defies the uniform construct of typical early twentieth century literature with its stream-of-conscious delivery. This personal structure offers intimate insights into the mind of Stephen Dedalus, yet this unique approach to such a complex character isolates the reader from Stephen's artistic motives. The fragmentented delivery is slightly overwhelming but, like art, the pieces shift together and trigger emotional memory.
It is interesting that A Portrait of the Artist as a Young man studies the portrait of a young man, for a portait usually depicts a man in his elderly years after living most of his life. The title is paradoxical in that this story is the portrait of a young man, while young men rarely pose for a portait unless they know that their death will arrive at an early age. At an early age Stephen thinks from the perspective of a man much older than himself. Stephen has an old soul and questions the universal "she," as in the "she" that is the church, his mother, and the women that saturate his thoughts with sin. He does not understand women and departs from association with any "she" in his life. At the close of the novel, Stephen discusses his decision to leave the church with his confidant Cranly. Stephen hears the voice of a woman singing and her voice draws forth an image in Stephens mind of, "The figure of a woman as she appears in the liturgy of the church...a white robed figure, small and slender as a boy, and with a falling girdle. Her voice, frail and high as a boy's, was heard intoning from a distant choir the first words of a woman which pierce the gloom and clamour of the first chanting of the passion"(Joyce 238). Stephen's encounter with this "woman," is his final goodbye to the "she" that is the church. As an artist Stephen undertands that must isolate himself and be alone, completely alone. He feels the needs distance from even someone as universal as the church herself. Stephen expresses this detachment from relationships through his internal navigational voice: "A voice spoke softly to Stephen's lonely heart, bidding him go and telling him that his friendship was coming to an end. Yes; he would go. He could not strive against another. He knew his part"(Joyce 239). It's as though Stephen feels the need to isolate himself from others in order to achieve true artistic bliss. Stephen stands alone as an artist. Though his mind does not accept the thoughts and beliefs of others, he is able to create.
Works Cited
Joyce, James. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. New York: Bantam, 1992. Print.
