Sunday, April 25, 2010
Portrait of the Artist as A Young Man- F Bell
Modernism is a literary movement that focuses on individualism, skepticism of institutions such as the government and religion, and the mistrust of absolute truths. As sociologist Georg Simmel once said, "The deepest problems of modern life derive from the claim of the individual to preserve the autonomy and individuality of his existence in the face of overwhelming social forces, of historical heritage, of external culture, and of the technique of life." Provide an example in which Stephan went against society, the government, or religion and embraced individualism. Quotes are encouraged!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
This blog is being moderated by Kristen Whalen and Elizabeth Edens. Due Friday, April 30th!
Stephen went against religion when he experimented with the prostitute. "He wanted to sin with another of his kind, to force another being to sin with him and exult with her in sin" (106). He embraces his individualism by experiencing in sexual acts before marriage, which is something that is forbidden by the Catholic church. He further went againt his religion by willingly and purposely commiting the sins of lust and greed.
Towards the end of the novel, Stephen experiences an epiphany where he decides that he needs to go out on his own and let the Catholic Church go. When "an instant of wild flight had delivered him and the cry of triumph which his lips withheld cleft his brain", he sees the young girl wading in the ocean water. He immediately feels a strong calling of individualism and realizes he needs to celebrate life to become who he wants to be as an artist. This realization is Joyces way of showing us how Stephen is acting out on his free will and finally embraces individualism while ignoring religion and all other restraints.
Most obviously, Stephen defies religion, though initially he turns to it in his period of confusion. As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that he cannot find himself through pedestrian methods prescribed to him by society. When he speaks throughout chapter three, his voice is muffled and constricted because he is inhibiting his sense, and as an artist, he is concealing his strengths in order to become a more religious figure. The usually flowery language of his speculations is concise, such as when he says, "He had no temptations to sin mortally. It surprised him however to find that at the end of his course of intricate piety and self-restraint he was so easily at the mercy of childish and unworthy imperfections." When he sees the young girl on the beach and realizes that finding beauty in things is his talent, he defies convention by abandoning religion entirely.
Even from his young days, Stephen is constantly defying convention, and when he becomes a teenager, he especially struggles with religion. At first, he completely disregards the morals and standards of Catholicism, reveling in sinning with prostitutes. However, after hearing a fiery sermon on the horrors of hell, Stephen becomes a devout Catholic, terrified by his possible damnation and comforted by the forgiveness offered for his sins.
However, Stephen soon begins to realize that he is stifled by his religion. He loses his beautiful control of language and is dismayed by the Church's condemnation of natural emotions and appreciation of beauty. Conflicted, Stephen finally realizes that he cannot continue his devotion to religion. He has "lost the faith...but not...selfrespect" (265). Stephen refuses to "forsake an absurdity which is logical and coherent and to embrace one which is illogical and incoherent" (265). He gives up the religion that he no longer believes in so that he can live how he is happiest, as an artist. Though his actions are neither approved nor understood by his family and society, Stephen defies religion in order to find himself and become a stronger individual and artist.
Throughout the story, Stephen searches for his spiritual identity. Growing up in a Catholic household blindly leads him a certain direction. When Stephen realizes that he is forcing himself to be happy, he turns away from Catholicism for the final time. He states, "When the soul of a man is born in this country there are nets flung at it to hold it back from flight. You talk to me of nationality, language, religion. I shall try to fly by those nets." After years of soul-searching, Stephen has finally figured out who he really is. Family and societal pressures no longer constrict his individuality. He has realizes that in order to purse his love for art and beauty, he has to turn away from Catholicism. He is satisfied with his choice and looks forwards to living a life without constraints.
Stephen is a conflicted individual throughout the novel. He is torn between loyality to his faith, nation, and spirituality. James Joyce was very much like Stephen, being that Portrait of An Artist is semi-autobiographical.
Stephen defies his faith in the middle of the novel, when he realizes that knowing and loving beauty is not part of the Catholic Church's regime. This is when Stephen sees a young girl in the water at the beach. At this point in the novel, he has done a 180 after having an encounter with a prostitute and subsequently becoming pious. He threw himself into the church after hearing about what would happen to him in hell. The polarity of the two beliefs causes him to leave the church.
Society, in the particular setting of novel, always dictated that if one was trying to figure life or oneself out that religion would always be light guiding the way that should be regarded as all-knowing. Stephen, however, rebels against this outlook by ultimately deciding that in order to progress in life he needed to go into seclusion and actually turn his back on the church in order to embrace a lifestyle that will develop his artistic inclinations. When he explains to people his intentions, they all seem very confused by the idea and Stephen's lack of faith , thus further expressing the difference between society and Stephen's choices in life.
great job everyone! all of your posts show your deep understanding of the novel and of stephen's struggle between conformity and individualism. keep up the good work :)
Post a Comment