Monday, February 28, 2011
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
by James Joyce
I am sorry Joyce lovers; he does not do it for me. I have too little knowledge of Irish history, slang, and life to appreciate almost all his references. This was much more enjoyable than "Ulysses", which is saying almost nothing. "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" did at times follow a logical path but still was difficult for me to follow.
Joyce painted a clear picture of adolescence and the felling of being unconnected with the world. When Stephen Dedalus, the artist and main character of "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man", was quizzed if he kissed his mother good night, the boys laughed at both of his answers, he could not figure out the correct answer. I have felt that way before, searching for an answer where there was none.
The other part of the book I enjoyed was the section dealing with the religious questions about Heaven and Hell. This was told from the perspective of a scared adolescent listening to a sermon. Effective.
The rest of the book was difficult to follow. I missed the importance of the relationship between the father and son or the fracture between mother and son. It seem rather ordinary to me.
I am sorry Joyce lovers; he does not do it for me. I have too little knowledge of Irish history, slang, and life to appreciate almost all his references. This was much more enjoyable than "Ulysses", which is saying almost nothing. "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" did at times follow a logical path but still was difficult for me to follow.
Joyce painted a clear picture of adolescence and the felling of being unconnected with the world. When Stephen Dedalus, the artist and main character of "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man", was quizzed if he kissed his mother good night, the boys laughed at both of his answers, he could not figure out the correct answer. I have felt that way before, searching for an answer where there was none.
The other part of the book I enjoyed was the section dealing with the religious questions about Heaven and Hell. This was told from the perspective of a scared adolescent listening to a sermon. Effective.
The rest of the book was difficult to follow. I missed the importance of the relationship between the father and son or the fracture between mother and son. It seem rather ordinary to me.
