CHAPTER 1
Early Impressions
The beginning of A Portrait of the Artist as a
Young Man depicts the earliest impressions of an infant. These impressions are
represented in a language that carries associations of inorderly experience and
the supremacy of outward impressions symbolical of the baby's mind. The child
remembers with peculiar acuteness, sights and sounds, smells, colours and
noises. Few incidents of his very young life pass temporarily before us. There
is the incident in which the child Stephen listens about a 'moo-cow'. There is
another example of the child recalling how he once wetted his bed, and how
mother sang to him. It seems that the child has arrived at the stage where it
has become easy for him to systematize and evaluate some of these experiences.
The Family of Dedalus
Then is introduced the family of Dedalus. There is
Simon Dedalus, the father of Stephen. His mother is May Dedalus. Living
with them are a few relatives like uncle Charles and Mrs. Riordan (called Aunt
Dante). There is also an introduction of the girl Stephen wants to marry. She
is called Eileen Vance.
The School Experiences of Stephen
There is a deep impression on the mind of Stephen
of his first school experiences. He was sent to a boarding school named
Clongowes Wood College. Stephen recollects how he bade farewell to his parents
when he first left for the school. He also recalls that playground where he
played football. He remembers the school library and the evening prayer. He
recalls how his rough classmate Wells had pushed him into a ditch of dirty
water and how he caught cold due to this. He had to take resort in the school
infirmary and Brother Michael looked after him. There he met Athy, the son of a
racehorse owner. Stephen is too frightened and disheartened and fears that he
is going to die. He somehow comforts himself with the thought that if he died
prematurely, the notorious Wells would be filled with repentance and remorse.
Stephen is almost in delirium and recalls the story of a ghost that his old
servants had told him.
The Dinner at Christmas
Stephen recalls very clearly the Christmas that he
spent at home with his mother and father. Stephen had grown up and it was for
the first time that he was permitted to sit at table with the elderly people.
At dinner an argument started on politics. As the argument became more heated,
May Dedalus did her best to maintain order and to calm them down but all in
vain. Ultimately the dinner was spoilt and it left painful memories in the mind
of Stephen. The main subject of the discussion had been the Irish patriot
Parnell whose death had recently come to their knowledge. Mr. Casey was a
steadfast supporter of Parnell and thought that Parnell had been treated badly
by the Irish Catholic Church. The cause for the condemnation of Parnell was
that he had kept a mistress. Aunt Dante was in support of the Catholic Church
and became too furious at the criticism of the church. She left the room out of
anger banging the door behind her.
Stephen's Girlfriend, Eileen
Stephen remembers the a girl Eileen. Once he had
put her ivory coloured hand into his own pocket, then they started playing
together. He had been threatened for playing with her because she was a
Protestant, but he somehow associated her with the Virgin Mary, and phrases
used by the Catholics to describe Virgin Mary got linked with Eileen in
Stephen's mind.
School Punishment
Stephen recalls how he was wrongly punished at
school by his Latin teacher. Stephen's spectacles were broken, thus he had been
unable to study. Though Stephen had explained this to the Latin teacher, Father
Dolan, yet he made fun of him and gave the marks of pandybat (leather strap) on
his hand. Stephen felt extremely disgraced. Other boys pressed him to meet the
Rector and report against Father Dolan; Stephen did that. The Rector had shown
sympathy and assured Stephen that this would not happen again.
CHAPTER-2
Uncle Charles was all the time smoking tobacco
through the pipe. Simon Dedalus did not like the strong smell of tobacco, it
seemed to him like gunpowder and he declared that Uncle Charles should smoke
his pipe outside the house. Uncle Charles accepted this disgrace with joy.
During the summer vacation Uncle Charles became the regular companion of
Stephen when he came home for the vacation. Both went for shopping or to the
park where a former athelete Mike Flynn would give Stephen running lessons. At
this time Stephen also took delight in the world of books. His dearest book was
The Count of Monte Christo.
Education Discontinued
The economic condition of Mr. Dedalus had so
deteriorated that he decided that Stephen should not go back to the expensive
school. Several alterations took place in the household to effect economy and
it caused great depression to Stephen. He started taking resort in reveries and
dreamt about the time when he would become a man, a mature and experienced man.
Further Fall
Stephen's family faced another fall in fortune,
which led them to further degradation. His family had to shift to a place that
was dirty and much less convenient. Moreover, Stephen's friend Uncle Charles
was growing cynical because of advanced age. Stephen holds remembrances of few
of the incidents that occurred during this period of his life. All these
memories are blended with the presence of a fictitious woman whom Stephen has
formed in his ideas.
New Educational Institution
As a consequence of the influence exercised by
Stephen's father, Stephen and his younger brother were sent to a new
preparatory school that was named 'Belvedere College'. Now Stephen felt himself
quite superior, and this sense of superiority is projected in his behaviour
towards the other boys of the school. Stephen and Heron became the unrivalled
heroes of the school.
Stephen is thrashed
One of the teachers of Stephen accused him of
heresy in one of his weekly essays. Stephen was openly scolded for this. Some
boys decided to punish Stephen for his heresy. They tormented him for a few
days after the public humiliation of Stephen. Stephen was stopped by three boys
when he was walking along the road. These boys were, Heron, Boland and Nash.
These boys interrogated Stephen as to whom he thought was the best poet or the
best prose writer. Stephen told them that he liked Byron a lot as a poet, and
that he regarded Cardinal Newman as the greatest prose writer. The boys said
that Byron was heretical and immoral. They persisted that he should take back
his opinion about the eminence of Byron but Stephen would not do that. He
refused, and was thus beaten by them callously with a cane and a cabbage stump.
The Play at School
Stephen remembers the night when a play was staged
in his school. His mind was again pervaded by the girl of his fancy. He
imagined that she was sitting among the audience. It filled him with shame to
perform his part because he felt that his role was a disgraceful one. His role
was of a humorous teacher. After the play he ran away, anguished, humiliated
and full of "wounded pride."
Stephen's Visit to Cork
Stephen went to the city of Cork with his father.
Mr. Dedalus was going there to dispose off some of his property but he also
wanted his son to be familiar with the places where he spent his childhood. In
the course of the journey he talked constantly about his friends of old days.
During his talk he, now and then, took a gulp of brandy from his flask. Stephen
was getting terribly bored with his conversation, and at the end fell off to
sleep. In Cork, Stephen's father took him to the college where he had studied.
The name of his college was Queen's College. He was taken round the campus. His
father told him several stories about his classmates that he had narrated to
him innumerable times before. In fact, this visit was full of boredom for
Stephen.
Stephen gets an Award
Stephen won the essay contest and got a prize. He
spent the money to give pleasure and entertainment to his family that was
facing ill-days. He took them to theatre and bought expensive gifts for them.
Thus it was a momentary excursion for them and soon after that they were back
to their old world of poverty.
Stephen Commits a Mortal Sin
Stephen's mind was filled with intense longings and
he wanted to go away from the gloomy and monotonous atmosphere of his school as
well as his home. One night while wandering in the streets, he reached a
brothel. He saw a woman standing at the door of her home. She stopped him and
called him lovingly to her room. Stephen surrendered his body and mind to that
woman.
CHAPTER-3.
Stephen's Self-Estimation
While sitting in the classroom Stephen's mind was
taking delight in the thoughts of that evening when he had taken meal and
pleasure in the brothel. As he contemplated over this sinful act he had to
admit that he was leading a torn life and putting his soul to the danger of
eternal damnation. Yet he knew he was not going to repent, because he felt
"a dark peace had been established between his body and soul." He had
stopped going to Mass but still offered prayers to Mother Mary.
The Period of Retreat
In honour of the patron saint of the school, Saint
Francis Xavier, a three day retreat was to be observed. During retreat the
master encouraged them to observe meditative silence. He also talked to them
about death and damnation. Stephen felt that every word was particularly
addressed to him. He recalled all the sins he had committed. He remembered the
obscene pictures that he kept and the indecent letters which he wrote and left
out in the anticipation that some girl would read them.
The Terrible Description of Hell
The most horrifying lecture was the one on hell.
The speaker had vividly described all the torments that the body was put to in
hell. Stephen felt great terror. He felt as though he was already dead and
going through the very same torments mentioned by the speaker, but the presence
of the teacher and his friends convinced him that he was still alive. Stephen
knew there was no escape. He had to confess, but dreaded the thought of doing
so among his school companions.
The Final Lecture on Spiritual Torments
The final lecture was regarding the spiritual
tortures that the damned have to face in hell. The speaker explained that the
first such torture they had to face was that of a sense of loss, for they must
understand that their sin had deprived them of God's loving care. The second
plight they had to suffer was that of deep regret. The third plight would be
the acknowledgement that their suffering is endless, infinite and beyond the
limits of time. He described this by giving the instance of a bird who carries
away a grain of sand from the mountain of sand once in every million years. In
God's eye even a single sin counts. This lecture had terribly shaken Stephen.
He tried to examine his conscience but felt incapable of the task. In the
evening he went to a nearby old priest and confessed all his sins. Thereafter
he felt greatly unburdened and relieved. He received Holy communion the next
morning and decided firmly to lead a new life.
CHAPTER-4
Routine full of Purity
Stephen's understanding of the nature of sin made
him adopt a routine of great piety. He went through many purificatory
excercises and subjected his body to mortification to conquer himself. He daily
attended Mass, offered prayers and recited the rosary that he always carried in
his pocket. He found himself successful in bringing all the senses under
control through the tough process of discipline. He started to believe in the
reality of love, for it appeared to him that God had forgiven him and bestowed
grace only because of his love for sinful humanity. Stephen's control over his
emotion, however, was still suspect. Sometimes doubts entered his mind,
sometimes he vacillated and it was apparent to him that something within him
was still dragging him towards sin, and that one act of sin would undo all the
spiritual progress that he had made through great perseverance and torment.
CHAPTER-5
Stephen Enters the University
Stephen now joins the University. One morning
Stephen is getting late for the class. His father shouts at him for his
slackness. His mother also says that University life has changed Stephen.
Stephen has now become a grown-up, matured intellectual who completely indulges
in the quest for beauty and the essence of art. Cranly, Stephen's companion,
shares his aesthetic interests. Cranly has a serious nature in contrast to
Stephen's other friends at the university. These friends are referred to
throughout the chapter and their several encounters are described. For example,
Davin, an ardent Irish patriot, is considered by Stephen to be a
"dullwitted loyal self." But Stephen who was obsessed with language
found himself trapped by Davin's speech-"an interesting mixture of
Elizabethan English and quaint Irish idioms. Davin's description of an incident
after a hurling match provides Joyce with an opportunity to demonstrate his
proficiency in imitating the Irish vernacular speech." The incident is in
reference to a lonely walk home late at night when Davin stops at an isolated
cottage to ask for water. A peasant woman who opens the door scares the young
student by her mysterious behaviour and her keen request that he should get in
and spend the night there. He leaves the house quickly but can never forget
this incident.
A Conversation on Art
On reaching the University, Stephen goes to the
physics theatre and meets the Dean of studies who is lighting a fire in the
hearth. Now follows a discussion in which they discuss the useful arts as
against liberal arts. This leads to a theoretical conversation on the artist's
goal. Stephen says that the target of the artist must be the creation of the
beautiful. The Dean asks what he considers beautiful.
Stephen answers with a quote from St. Thomas
Aquinas, "those things are beautiful the perception of which
pleases." Stephen is sincerely trying to evolve a clear conception of the
fundamental questions in art and literature. He tries to form his own aesthetic
doctrine, and he uses various persons (the Dean, Cranly and Lynch) to examine
his ideas. He tells the Dean that he uses Aquinas' ideas as a lamp to light his
own views. There can be no such thing as free thought because all thinking
needs to be bound by its own laws. This conversation with the Dean ends as the
Professor of physics and other students enter the hall, and the class begins.
Stephen and his Classmates
When the class is over, Stephen meets Cranly. A
group of students are involved in enlisting students to sign a petition for
disarmament and world peace. Stephen says that he has no interest in this
matter. Temple also walks off with Stephen and Cranly. Davin and Lynch
accompany Stephen and Cranly to watch a hurling match. Stephen condemns the
blind patriotism of Davin, stating that he does not share the others' strong
devotion to his country. "Ireland is an old sow that eats her
farrow", he says coldly. He is sure that one need not sacrifice anything
for such a country. In fact, he has decided to leave it for good. Lynch and
Stephen are parted and Stephen begins to hold forth on his aesthetic
philosophy. His aesthetic doctrine which he calls "applied Aquinas",
is given below.
Stephen's Aesthetic Theory as influenced by St.
Aquinas
1. We can regard a thing as beautiful if its
perception pleases.
2. The good is that towards which the appetite
inclines. This suggests:
(a) That creation of the beautiful is the only
concern of a creative artist.
(b) The interest of the productive artist is only
in the production of good.
Other aspects of Stephen's doctrine are derived
from Greek thought:
3. Art must not be kinetic, that means it should
not excite emotion like desire or loathing. It is the function of useful art to
produce such emotions.
4. Three things are essential for the perception of
beauty, these also show the influence of Greek thought:
(a) integritas or wholeness
(b) consonance or harmony
(c) brightness or radiance
Stephen explains it through the instance of a
basket First, one sees the basket as one thing, then a thing with parta
(harmony) and ultimately as that thing and not anything else Stephen tells
Lynch that beauty and truth produce a stasis in the observer's mind. He quotes
from Plato: "Beauty is the splendour of the truth".
Divisions of Art
Stephen divides art into a development of three
forms:
(1) Lyrical
The projection of the artist himself, his views or
experiences.
(2) Epic
The image is
present in close relation to the artist and to others. It is not subjective like Lyrical art.
(3) Dramatic:
The image is presented in close relation to others.
The personality of artist is refined out of existence in this type of art. It
is totally impersonal or objective.
Composition of a Poem
As it starts raining, Lynch and Stephen return to
the library of the college. Lynch points out Stephen's girl as she walks off
with her friends. Stephen watches her keenly from afar and pays no attention to
Lynch's talk.
He is wrapt in the thoughts of this girl. One
morning, Stephen wakes up to a "tremulous morning knowledge a morning
inspiration." Ecstatic, and full of passion, verses began to form in his
mind. He manages to write a villanelle, complete with six stanzas, in honour of
that girl.
Stephen's Determination
Stephen is standing on the steps of the library
watching the birds flying in a circle over his head. It reminds him of the
flight of Daedalus. Stephen decides firmly, that he would not only leave his
family but also his religion and nationality. Stephen sees the girl again and
pursues her for a short distance while Dixon, Cranly, Glynn and Temple discuss
where unbaptized infants go when they die. Some say that they go to Limbo.
A Discord with the Mother
Stephen tells Cranly that he had argued about
religion with his mother. She had told him to perform his Easter duty, that is
to go to Mass and communion which Stephen refuses to do. He declares to Cranly
the non serviam of Lucifer: "I will not serve". The analytical Cranly
marks the irony of Stephen's inner involvement with a religion in which he does
not believe any more. They discuss the parents of Stephen. He loves his mother
but regards his father merely "a praiser of his own past". Stephen
does not want to hurt his mother but he can not denounce his principles either.
Cranly tells Stephen that he should not accept the request of his mother if he
does not believe in the religious rituals. Stephen answers that he neither
believes nor disbelieves, but admits that he is not adamant enough to
disbelieve to risk making a sacrilegious communion. Stephen shows his respect
for the rituals of church by refusing to observe them. He says that he does not
want to become a protestant, forsaking a logical and coherent absurdity for an
illogical and incoherent one'. He decides that he must go far away to attain
perfect spiritual freedom. Stephen is determined to sacrifice everything that
comes in his way of attaining spiritual freedom. He declares that he cannot
serve that in which he no longer believes whether it be home, church or
country.
Entries in Stephen's Diary
At the end of Chapter 5 a series of dated entries
in Stephen's diary is depicted which relate to his last moments before leaving
Ireland. The date of first entry is March 20th and last one is April 27th.
Stephen records his last meetings with Lynch, Cranly, and Davin and in brief,
his thoughts and impressions. He tells his mother that he can not go back to
church; that he can not repent. He describes his last meeting with his girl
friend at which both feel disheartened. He turns on "his spiritual heroic
refrigerating apparatus invented and patented in all countries by Dante
Alighieri" thereby linking his prolonged romance with the unrealized ideal
love and devotion of Dante to Beatrice. In the last entry, he invokes the old
ancient artificer Daedalus, for inspiration: "April 26....... so be it.
Welcome, O Life! I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience
and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race.
April 27...... old father, old artificer, stand by me now and ever in good
stead."
Therefore, like Daedalus, Stephen spreads his wings
to escape the labyrinth (jail) of Dubin and fly toward the realm of artistic
freedom.