A Portrait of the Artist as A Young (Insert noun here)

As for the title of my blog, "(insert noun here)" is significant because of the different ways James Joyce was viewed, and the different stages he went through. He was viewed by some as a rebel, by some as a delinquent, by some as anti-establishment, and by some as a danger. Through part of his life he viewed himself as worthless, sinful, and as a failure. He later viewed himself as an individual, an intellect, and an elite. I view him simply as a man. To call attention to his pluralistic identity, I name I titled my blog as noted...

Theme: Individualism
Of course individualism is a dominant theme in the novel. James Joyce grew up in a family that dictated his thoughts, a family that sought complete control over his life. His family prefered to think for him, rather than to have him think for himself. He was raised under a strict Catholic lifestyle, where family, religion, and cultural norms were of the utmost importance. As a young boy, Stephen was picked on and bullied by other children; because he was without his support system while in school, he was unable to defend himself. He simply did not know how. Without his family to aid him, he was useless, susceptible to any danger that could come his way. This shows that total dependence on a support system is detrimental. One must rely on one's own self to succeed. As he grew older, he became a follower of the Church. At this point in time, the Church replaced his family as his largest influence. Though he was no longer being told what to think by his family, he was still being told what to think by the Church--This was even more harmful. His thoughts clouded by the Church's indoctrination, he turned to self-abuse and self-punishment. This shows that dependence on an institution is harmful as well. One must think one's own thoughts, otherwise one is not being true to oneself; if a person lives a lie, it will certainly have disastrous consequences. Finally, as Joyce progresses to his final stage in the novel, he achieves self-fulfillment. He finally understands himself, and comse to terms with his life. He is able to make sound decisions, decisions that are healthy and beneficial. Why such a turnaround?--Because he thought for himself for the first time. He was true to his beliefs because they were actually his. Without his minded obstructed by the opinions of others, he was able to succeed. By not allowing others to proselytize him any longer, he became stronger and smarter. His individualistic thoughts led to his success.

Quote: "He was destined to learn his own wisdom apart from others or to learn the wisdom of others himself wandering among the snares of the world." (Joyce 175).
This is possibly the most important quote in the entire novel, at least it struck me as such. It is at this point in time that Stephen realizes that in order to learn and live, one mustn't follow others blindly. It is crucial to learn on one's own, learning from mistakes, and benefitting from triumphs. It is at this point that he acknowledges the dangers of the world, but is able to embrace them. Joyce chose his words carefully for this sentence, opting to make his point clear and unambiguous. He used the word "destined" to express to the reader the importance of Stephen's epiphany. The word "destined" suggests that the situation was inevitable, that individual thought is impossible to suppress. He also repeated the word "wisdom" twice. The use of that particular word instead of a word such as "intelligence" or "knowledge" enhances the quote's significance. "Wisdom" carries a different connotation than its synonyms, and sounds more powerful and important. He is implying that Stephen is not yet wise. He is smart, but has been shielded from reality for too long, thus he did not yet have the experience to be wise. Now that he broke free from his oppressors, wisdom awaited him... He refers to the "snares of the world" to make the point that life is not perfect. He now understands that a perfect life is impossible, and living only to attain perfection is a wasted life. He desires now to break free of the institutions that were holding him back; though he was unsure of his next move, he at least knew he would make a move. Up to this point in his life, he had been unsure, anxious, afraid. This quote marks a turning point in his life where afterward he would be sure, calm, and unafraid. This quote signifies the end of his old life, and the beginning of his new life.

Reflection:
As many other students have noted, this book was quite a difficult read. THERE is an understatement for you...Though the book was difficult, and probably nearly impossible to read alone without class discussions to guide you, it was rewarding. The book was a powerful account that sucked the reader directly into the speaker's thoughts. Rarely does a novel portray emotions in such a disturbingly accurate manner. Joyce's use of stream-of-consciousness style of writing was incredible as it progressed through the different stages of his thoughts. It was quite interesting to read a book that went from talking about moocows and wetting the bed to contemplating the deepest philosophies of life and death. I agree strongly with the book's theme of individualism and self-thought. I, too, disagree with many of the Church's practices, and desire not to be limited by an institution. Because of the aforementioned reasons, I liked the book a lot. The reading assignments drove me to the point of "near-James-Joyce-during-his-religious-self-abuse-periods-insanity", but alas I do not hold a grudge. Solid choice of a book...