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Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a portrait of Stephan Dedalus' turbulent journey through young adulthood into his destined life as an artist. Stephen's character goes through three major changes throughout the course of the text. The novel is Stephen's journey from his development as a sensitive child to rebellious young man. There are times when Stephen's own actions seem to oppose each other "…a leader afraid of his own authority, proud and sensitive and suspicious…" (6). Stephen is at times socially inept, bullied by his peers, and feels as though he is week. While the stronger side of Stephen bravely stands up for himself and his beliefs. At times, in the novel, Stephen sincerely wants to accept his vocation while at others he uprightly discards religion in order to pursue his life as an artist. In A portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Stephen's contradictory character and constant lifestyle changes are enabled by the father figures Stephen chooses to idealize. Stephen's biological father, Simon Dedalus, is the primary influence in the first part of the text. In the middle passage of the text Stephen is devoted to mankind's father God, and in the final phase of the novel Stephen is influenced by his artistic father Daedalus. In the first part of the text Stephen greatly admires his father. This admiration leads Stephen to act in way contradictory to his own character in order to better emulate his father. Stephen's father, Simon Dedalus, was once a highly achieved gentleman who had future aspirations of becoming a doctor, and he attended classes to fulfill his dream. Simon was socially active with his peers and was "the boldest flirt in the city of Cork in this day"; Simon was a proud Irishman, who loved women and alcohol, and whose son looked up to him (100). Stephen admired his father's outgoing way with his peers and fluent way with the ladies, yet Stephen was unable to reproduce them. In school, the boys would often tease and bully Stephen because he was different "That was mean of Wells to shoulder him into the square ditch because he would not swop his little snuffbox for Well's seasoned hacking chestnut, the conqueror of forty", and Stephen was often pleased to be left alone with his own thoughts (7). Stephen would not take part in group activities or play games with any of his peers "…he was different from others. He did not want to play. He wanted to meet in the real world the unsubstantial image which his soul so constantly beheld"(67). When Stephen was sent to Clongowes, a Catholic school for boys, his father gave him an important piece of advice. Simon's advice for Stephen to follow was never to inform on another person (6). Simon followed his father's advice but faltered on one occasion where he had been wrongfully punished by Father Dolan for not having his glasses in class. Stephen was in disbelief, as he had not disobeyed the rules, and felt as though it was his duty to report Father Dolan to the rector. The fact that Stephen was able to stand up for himself at such a young age shows that he is a morally strong person. Stephen is not the type of boy to follow the large crowed, and his strength of character sets him apart from other people. Simon is a weaker character and finds comfort within groups of people, which is why his primary advice to Stephen is "never to peach on a fellow", as Simon relies on other to serve him and does not stand up for himself (6). Stephen's final alienation from his father occurs when Simon discovers that Stephen has "peached" on Father Dolan. Simon is appalled that Stephen would take it upon himself to report on Father Dolan "Father Dolan and I, when I told them all at dinner about it , Father Dolan and I had a great laugh over it. You better mind yourself, Father Dolan, and I, or young Dedalus will send you up for twice nine. We had a famous laugh together over it. Ha! Ha! Ha!"(76). Simon's reaction to his son's bold action is to laugh. Simon believes that a man should not set himself apart from others, but rather, a man should be an established member of a group. Simon's goal within the group is to keep all participants amused and entertained by his presence. Simon is associated in the text with Simon Magus, a man who offensively tried to buy spirituality. Stephen soon realizes that his father is financially incompetent whose mistakes plunge the Dedalus family further into poverty. Stephen's escalated sexual behavior stem from a desire to mimic his father's own sexual delinquencies. Stephen's moment of sexual awakening is when Eileen rests her hand on upon his within his pant pocket. Following this brief encounter with Eileen Stephen is faced with another sexually stimulating situation that he is not able to take advantage of. Stephen's failure to kiss Emma while on the tram ride home adds to Stephen's unfulfilled desires "She too wants me to catch hold of her, he thought. That's why she came with me to the tram. I could easily catch hold of her when she comes up to my step nobody is looking. I could hold her and kiss her", but Stephen is unable to make the first move (7). Stephen's inability to pursue women makes him feel inferior to his father "Then he is not his father's son"; as Simon was very successful with women (100). Stephen failure to follow his father's sexual deviation and his increasing fantasies about women lead him to a prostitute to release his sexual urges. The encounter with the prostitute elevates Stephen's generally timid character, fulfills his fantasies, and satisfies his need for motherly love. Stephen's overwhelming urge to participate in sexually deviant acts similar to those his father has committed, overrides the moral evils he knows he is committing. Stephen further romanticized his sinful experience as he imagines himself fallen from God's good graces.
Stephen's alienation from his father is preceded by his faithful devotion to God, and his actions reflect his newfound faith. Stephen's renewed faith in the church and in God lead his life in a new path. Stephen is no longer interested in his fantasies, but is set on leading a life of servitude "He never once disobeyed or allowed turbulent companions to seduce him from his habit of quiet obedience and, even when he doubted some statement of a master, he had never presumed to doubt openly" (16). Stephen has discovered a new outlook on life. The tranquil stance Stephen takes on is primarily formed by the deep seeded feelings of guilt and sin he feels during the hell sermon. After the sermon, Stephen is forced to examine his sin festered soul and guilty conscious "The preacher's knife had probed deeply into his diseased conscience and he felt now that his soul was festering in sin. Yes, the preacher was right. God's turn had come. Like a beast in its lair his soul had lain down in its own filth but the blasts of the angel's trumpet had driven him forth from the darkness of sin into the light" (1). Stephen follows the precepts guidance while in school and numbs himself to any kind of feeling in order to stifle his true inclinations as an artist. Stephen is successful in containing his senses and keeping his numb like composure; but it is his mind that betrays him, as he is unable to accept the hypocrisy of the priests. Stephen is appalled that injustices could be committed by holy priests. The incident in which he is beaten by Father Dolan is a clear indication of the hypocrisy that he feels and is illustrated by his confused attitude towards the priests "He was happy and free but he would not be anyway proud with Father Dolan. He would be very kind and obedient and he wished that he could do something kind for him to show him that he was not proud"(60). Respect is still given to the priests but Stephen is unable to follow their lead without question. Stephen's future identity is foreshadowed in the text by statements made by Stephen "Now, as never before, his strange name seemed to him a prophecy…he seemed flying above the waves and slowly climbing the air….His heart trembled in an ecstasy of fear and his soul was in flight"(18). Stephen realizes that he cannot hold back his senses or emotions. He believes he was not meant to be a priest. The cold servant way of life is not an option for an artist, as their life, as in their art is filled with emotion. Stephens's final realization that he is not meant to live the life a priest occurs when he takes a long walk along the sea and sees a beautiful woman "Her image had passed into his soul for ever and no word had broken the holy silence of his ecstacy. Her eyes had called him and his soul had leaped at the call. To live, to err, to fall, to triumph, to recreate life out of life!"(186). The sight of a woman makes Stephen realize that he cannot sequester himself, as he must be around the wondrous things that inspire him. As Stephen matures within the text he slowly distances himself from the mindless servitude of the church in order to pursue his true calling as an artist; his true feeling shed to Cranly "I will not serve"(60).Stephen's final lifestyle change within the novel is when he realizes that his true calling is that of and artist; idealizing his artistic father Daedalus. Daedalus, as explained in the text, is a Greek artificer who created the labyrinth and made wings out of wax for his son Icarus and his escape (77). Stephen refers to Daedalus within the text and feels as though Daedalus truly is his artistic father "He would create proudly out of the freedom and power of his soul, as the great artificer whose name he bore, a living thing, new and soaring and beautiful, impalpable, imperishable"(184). When Stephen accepts his true calling as an artist he explains that he was not himself before and that his true nature is to create. Stephen admits that he will fall, yet for him to rely on his true talent he must not let the laws of the church confine him. Stephen needs to experience life for all that it is; regardless of whether he will be punished for it in his afterlife. Stephen confesses to Cranly at the end of the text "I do not fear to be alone or to be spurned for another or to leave whatever I have to leave. And I am not afraid to make a mistake, even a great mistake, a lifelong mistake and perhaps as long as eternity too"(6). Stephen would rather lead life to its fullest than lead a sheltered humble existence without art and love. Stephen's artistic inclination is shown throughout the novel, as the narration becomes a work of art. The structure of the novel enables Stephen's inner most thoughts, and his mind's processes to be displayed. The reader is aware that Stephen is inclined towards the arts before he does, due to the fluid use of language and poetic illustration of events described in the novel "How pale the light was at the window! But that was nice. The fire rose and fell on the wall. It was like waves. Someone had put coal on and he heard voices. They were talking. It was the noise of the waves. Or the waves were talking among themselves as they rose and fell"(5). This passage is vivid, as the use of language makes the fire feel like waves, and the repetitiveness of the statement creates the rise and fall of the tide. The language used to describe the mundane event of a fire suggests that Stephen sees the world around him differently than do others. His senses are acute and he feels things deeply. Stephen does posses talent in use of language, yet he becomes very prideful at the end of the novel. Perhaps he is not destined to be like the great Daedalus he idolizes. Stephen displays the passion and pride for himself and his art such as Icarus did. Icarus, a romantic and passionate about the arts, did not have discipline and focus. Icarus ignored the warnings given by his father, flew to close to the sun, and died. Stephen is similar to Icarus as Stephen becomes egotistical and prideful, and ignores the advice of others. Perhaps on the day of judgment he too shall fall "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire!...Do you not fear that those words may be spoken to you on the day of judgement?"(60).Stephen's character has gone through many changes within the novel. Firstly, he idealized his father and tried to mimic his actions by having encounters with prostitutes. Then Stephen rejected his father's influence and turned to mankind's father, our lord and savior, for spiritual guidance, yet he was unable to dull his acute senses and artistic inclinations in order to lead a devout life as a priest. Stephen's final standpoint in the novel is to follow the path of his artistic father Daedalus. Stephen has radically changed his beliefs within the novel according to the different influences he values highly at the time. Perhaps in the future Stephen will meet someone who has a great impact upon his soul and changes his character yet again. Stephen is affected by those around him, as they inspire him to create as an artist.
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