In Kevin J.H. Dettmar's work entitled The Illicit Joyce of Postmodernism, Dettmar argues that much of Joyce's works are filled with an epiphany, or a moment of illumination of one's mastery over the situation. However, Joyce, being the modernist/postmodernist writer that he was, used epiphanies "to impose closure where in fact none inheres; it is, in other words, a way to fight off the intense disquiet caused by Joyce's 'scrupulous meanness.'" Therefore, Dettmar suggests that Joyce instead used what's known as an epiclesis, or a gradual submission to mystery that allows for a soft, gradual and hard won appreciation for the characters' situations and the falsehood of the epiphany. In other words, Joyce used epiphanies when in fact there wasn't one.
In A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stephen is constantly challenged with his faith and the Catholic Church. However, according to Dettmar's theory on the use of epiclesis in place of epiphanies, many of the characters, not just Stephen, are subjected to these false epiphanies, and we in turn are subjected to a constant epiclesis. Please discuss a character or characters who exhibit this false sense of epiphany, whether it be through the Catholic Church or through politics. Quotes are welcome.
Moderated by Gary and Elizabeth. Due Friday April 30.
17 comments:
Now, I'll be perfectly honest - I had to reread the prompt, and I'm still not quite sure I understood what you were saying. This is how I understood it, and attempted to answer it: Discuss a character that believes he understands a situation, but in fact doesn't. ("a moment of illumination of one's mastery over the situation" being the "false sense of epiphany")
I'll be perfectly honest: I barely remember any minor characters, this novel was so completely focused on Stephen. I initially wanted to discuss Dante and Stephen's father's religion v. politics discussion, but then I realized their viewpoints were hardly "moments" of illumination. Rather, I believe a good example would be the student, I believe his name was Macsomething (further referred to as Mac), who represented the communist party.
Mac is on a roll, he has the crowds fired up about universal brotherhood and socialism: he believes he is part of the movement that has discovered the way to bring about world peace. In a way, he is experiencing a brief moment during which he is absolutely certain he has figured out how the world works.
Of course, I'm sure he would have felt quite differently during the 1950's, when the Iron Curtain had settled over Eastern Europe. Clearly, his epiphany was false, he in no way had "mastery over the situation."
Yes very good David! That was what I was asking- to discuss a character that believes he understands a situation, but in fact doesn't.
And for everyone who hasn't yet posted, I know this prompt is abstract to say the least, but just give it your best try. Elizabeth will be asking a follow up question later.
Well, since people are not necessarily responding with leaps and bounds to answer this particular question, I shall post a follow up question. It has been long proven that authors have no coincidence in their work. Every single piece of an author's story is carefully crafted in order to symbolize, describe, or enlighten. James Joyce spent a painful amount of time crafting symbolism in Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man. Stephen's own name is, perhaps, one of the most important symbols in the novel. Explain the importance of the symbolism associated with Stephen's name. Why do you think Joyce chose the name he did? What allusions are found in association with his name? Quotations are more than welcome, but are not required.
Also, you can still answer the first question if you so please. You have the opportunity to answer either question. :) Happy blogging!
I think I'll go with Elizatbeth's prompt....
Both the first and last names of Stephen Dedalus are of immense importance. In early times of Christianity (30s AD - ish)St. Stephen was stoned to death near Jerusalem, dying as the first Christian martyr. Throughout the novel, Stephen plays a role similar to that of the saint that shares his name. he is faced with overcoming the popular belief of his up-risings - the importance of his family and Catholicism - and struggles as he frees himself from everything in his life that restrains him from being purely individual. His last name, Dedalus, is similar to the name of a pagan artist/hero - Daedalus. (so as not to hog all answering possibilities for this prompt I will leave it up to someone else to discuss the significance, but as a head's up it has to do with the artist/hero aspect of the pagan Daedalus....)
That is all.
How generous of you, Keely! Great response! Let's get some more people answering these great blog questions! I know that they're hard, but, hey, James Joyce is a pretty hard fellow!
He, he, he! :)
In response to Gary's post, I don't believe any of the characters under go any false "epiphanies." Stephen genuinely transforms his own person on two different, consecutive occasions. While one relies on religion as a catalyst for the first change, freedom and personal independence fuel the second. I am going out on a limb and venture to say that Joyce intentionally placed other characters that abstained from any transformation throughout the novel. This was instituted to exemplify the drastic alteration Stephen undergoes against his fellow antagonists.
I'm going to follow up with Keely's comment and discuss the importance of Daedalus. In Greek Mythology, Deadalus was both a craftsman and an artisan. He made the labyrinth on Crete that held the minotaur. His task was commissioned by King Midas to contain his wife's son. But Daedalus was said to have done such an intricate and clever job bringing the maze together that even he had trouble getting out of it. And this somewhat correlates with Stephen's life. He spends his time trying to seclude himself from the aspects of Catholicism, and then returning to it, then finally abandoning it again that he really does get "lost' in the maze of his life( this is a really cliche' answer, sorry!)And the artist profession is another obvious link, seeing as how their professions were both original and imaginative.
Great job Mary! I like how you refuted Dettmar's claim and offered your own interpretation. Very interesting.
And Yousra, it may be a cliche answer (which it really isn't), but its very much correct and well put. Good response!
I'm doing Gary's - I think a major false epiphany Stephen has is his entire view on the Catholic Church and that is why he keeps changing. After his first experience with the prostitute he feels like he owes it to the church to be a better person so he follows Catholicism religiously. However, it doesn't take him long to realize that his "purity" isn't really helping him or proving anything about his religion. And that's basically another false epiphany, because it can't really be proven. His constantly changing views are these false epiphanies.
Stephen is a purely Christian name. Having been raised Christian, Stephen is a slave to the culture yet plagued with doubt following his rebellion against the tenets of his religion and multiple sexcapades with prostitutes. He is disgusted by his own conformity to help repress the shame he feels at turning his back on his faith.
Daedalus, worshiped in pagan mythology, is symbolic of the future artist that Stephen learns to become, absolved of the philosophies and beliefs of others, soaring over popular perception and instead forming his own ideas. The sharp contrast between the ideology of Christianity and the worshipers of this pagan God shows the inner conflict in Stephen himself.
I'll continue Emily's main idea of the church as a false epiphany and state that it was actually a misinterpretation on Stephen's part. After absolving himself of the eight months of sins, Stephen feels grateful yet conflicted through a majority of chapter 4. He argues with himself over the merits of "the one eternal omnipresent perfect reality" and how the church and its doctrine say that he can be forgiven. He can still fold into the flock even though he has committed such heinous crimes. However, he notices a sort of "newly born life or virtue" and begins to rigorously train himself not to sin. In reality, it seems as if he's training his senses (a key component to artistry) to only seek those things which are pious, which is to say he stopped indulging his senses. However, he cannot completely keep up with his goals and, after being offered a position in the church, lapses into a state where he can better appreciate the senses he's trying to oust. He then has another sort of epiphany, where he takes a phrase "A day of dappled seaborne clouds" and runs with the creative process by using these 'forbidden' senses to come to the conclusion that there is beauty in the world. This is the epiclesis that starts Stephen's interest in the arts, that his senses are not to be inhibited but be allowed to profess himself.
Good job everybody! You all handled Joyce very well.
Gary and Lizzie, my hat off to both of you for an excellent prompt that brought in a book, which I feel brings a new depth and spin to Portrait of an Artist. The concept of the "epiclesis" or false ephiphanies throughout the work is very central to its meaning and it development of characters. Class, you worked hard to find tie-ins to this challenging prompt by bringing in appropriate characters and weaving some key words from the novel. I also liked the references to mythology! Very impressive and thanks to all!
Lizze, I wanted to thank you for the additional prompt idea on symbols which allowed for choice. Great job with seeing what was needed!
Sorry for being so late...but better late than never.
In response to lizzie's prompt:
Stephen's name is yet another one of Joyce's allusions. His name comes from Saint Stephen, who was widely known to have controversy with religion. Joyce's Stephen has the same issue as the Saint he is meant to allude to. Joyce shows this by having Stephen desire to rid himself of all the typical things that bring him down, such as Catholicism, as well as the Irish culture in general. Stephen yearns to be free of these cultural oppressors, just as the Saint he is meant to allude to.
Daedalus was the creator of the Minotaur's labyrinth. His labyrinth was created so brilliantly, that even Daedalus himself found himself lost in its intricacies, not unlike Stephen being lost in the intricacies of his own mind.
Daedalus' other claim to fame varies depending on what mythical version one is versed on. My favorite is one where Daedalus was locked in a tower to prevent his knowledge of his Labyrinth from becoming public. He created wings to escape, however, if a proper balance between the sun and sea wasn't met, disaster would ensue. This story mirrors and draws parallels with Stephen's own need to escape Ireland and to find balance.
-Diana
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