A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Chapter 1
The first chapter begins with fragments of Stephen’s memories from his early childhood. He recalls a song about a ‘Moocow,’ sung to him by his father, and the feeling of bedsheets after he had wet the bed. He recalls the time he had been in a lot of trouble with his family because he had told Eileen, a girl of his age from the neighborhood, that he would marry her. Stephen’s governess, Dante, was particularly vehement in denouncing Stephen’s sinful intention of marrying a girl of protestant faith while they were all Catholics. Stephen hid under the table and had to be coaxed out of his hiding place by his mother. Stephen composed a poem about the punishments that awaited Catholics who married protestants.
Stephen Dedalus is sent to Clongowes Wood College, a Jesuit school built in a castle, and he struggles to assimilate with his peers. Stephen does not play with the other students and becomes a victim of a bully named Wells. He and the other boys make fun of Stephen by asking him if he kissed his mother before going to bed, leaving Stephen feeling confused and alone. Wells violently shoves Stephen into the cesspool, and this causes him to fall sick. Stephen hears the other boys condemning Wells when they realize that Stephen has fallen ill. Stephen is visited by Wells as he lies in his bed, the young boy apologizes to Stephen and asks him not to report him. Stephen’s father had advised him to not report his fellows, and so Stephen assures him that he won’t do so. Stephen is sent to the hospital wing, where he overhears the caretaker expressing concern for his well-being. Stephen imagines how his known world would mark his death as he visualizes his church service and coffin. Stephen begins to make a slow recovery, but before he leaves the hospital he learns that Chris Parnell has died.
Stephen is home for Christmas dinner with his family, and they are hosting his Uncle Charles, as well as his father, Mr. Casey. Stephen is excited about the dinner since it is the first time that he has been allowed to sit in with the adults for Christmas. His mother delivers a plump turkey to the table, and his father sets about carving the bird for the diners. Simon and Casey get into a discussion about how the priests have been too vocal about politics, and have been talking about their leaders in mass. Stephen’s governess, Dante, doesn’t like the criticisms being leveled at the priests and she defends their right to talk about politics as well as their good sense in doing so. Mr. Casey and Simon Dedalus defend the leader, Chris Stewart Parnell, who had been maligned by the church, and go further in criticizing the role church has played in preventing the Irish people from ganging self-rule. At first, Stephen sides with Dante as he agrees that it would be sinful to argue with priests but he remembers all the hateful things that she had said about Eileen, and so begins to favor his father. The argument continues to grow more animated, while Stephen’s mother and his Uncle Charles attempt to separate the two parties. It finally ends when Dante is led out of the dining room by Mrs. Dedalus, but before she leaves the room she exclaims joy at Parnell’s death. Mr. Casey is reduced to tears at the sorry fate of his ‘dead king.’
Stephen returns to Clongowes, where he now has friends. He stands outside with a group of boys as they discuss the fate of a few boys who had attempted to run away from the school. The boys had been trying to get away from punishment, but none of their classmates were aware of why they had gotten into trouble in the first place. Some boys speculate that it was because they had stolen wine from the church, but another boy is convinced that they had been punished for gay acts. Stephen thinks about Eileen’s arms, and he likens her complexion to ivory. In Latin class, Stephen is excused from writing because he broke his glasses and had written home for a new pair. The perfect that comes to punish troublemakers hits Stephen for not writing as he assumes that Stephen is lying about his glasses. All the boys in his class tell him that Father Dolan was too unfair and that he should tell the Rector about what had occurred. Stephen can’t quite muster the courage at first, but he gathers himself at the prospect of being treated to another beating the following day and makes his way to the Rector’s office. Stephen explains his case in a hesitating yet demanding manner, and the rector promises to speak to Father Dolan.
Analysis
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man was the debut novel of James Joyce, one of the most acclaimed modernist writers of the 20th century. Modernist writers sought to break away from traditional structures of storytelling and language, and this novel makes use of one such alternative writing style, stream of consciousness. Yet, the opening of the novel begins with the ancient opening for old stories, “Once upon a time…” The following sentences present fragmented impressions of Stephen Dedalus’s childhood that begin with a song his father sang to him when he was very young. On the opening page, readers find reference to Simon Dedalus, a man the protagonist later resents, and old narrative structures that the author doesn’t intend to use in his narrative.
The plot of the novel asks the reader to consider whether an artist is born or whether the artist is created. As an answer to the question, Joyce presents Stephen Dedalus as the answer. Stephen is marked off as separate from the very beginning of his education, evidenced by his inability to make friends during his initial time at Clongowes. Stephen is shown to be highly observant, and concerned with understanding the mysterious rules of the world of adults, a pursuit that almost inevitably leads him to confusion. He is highly impressionable as is suggested through his manner of recalling Eileen, as well as his vivid experience of being shoved into the cesspool. Stephen is also deeply affected by the tumultuous political arguments that take place at home. Although he has no understanding of politics at this stage in his life, the issue of his Irish patriotism grows to be a major concern as he transitions into adulthood.
