Character Analysis Of Portrait Of The Artist As A Young...

William A.C. Baldwin Professor Lootens ENGL 2320 October 10, 2017 First Prompt: â€Å"Portrait of the Artist as a Young Friend† When examining the character of Stephen Dedalus it is entirely reasonable to find an abundance of character flaws stemming from his characterization as a young man who is struggling to establish a proper sense of reality. Many of his perspectives on intrapersonal relationships, especially with women, are easily condemned under the seemingly pretentious pretext of a narrative pertaining to one who is a self proclaimed artist. This initial disabling of sympathy toward the protagonist is instrumental in forming the residual opinion held by readers about his actions. Considering the protagonist as someone with whom†¦show more content†¦The authenticity with which the novel portrays the mindset of the main character as a young child must not be forgotten when examining the mindset of the protagonist as an older character. This authenticity is never absent and is never abandoned throughout the entirety of the work. As the observations by the main character become increasingly co ntroversial, it is instinctual to condemn these actions without considering their validity as a look inside the mind of a person who finds themselves in a transitional state. Stephen speaks of women as objects beholden to his own will and seems entirely obsessed with the purpose of their presence in his life. He seeks comfort from his mother, pleasure from the prostitute, discipline from the Virgin Mary. When so immersed in the mind of a person it is not difficult to condemn the thoughts therein, but readers must remain subjective throughout the mental struggle and attempt to not forget that these thoughts are but a more complicated form of the candid narrative presented during younger years. It is vital to the understanding of the true purpose of the text to transcend the phase of castigation and judgmental disassociation and reach the deeper aspects of Stephen’s psyche. Imagining him as a friend is very useful in overcoming the urge to distance oneself from these condemnab le thoughts. As a friend, it isShow MoreRelatedA Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man1716 Words   |  7 PagesIn the class reading of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, we analyzed the life of Stephen Dedalus in relation to his family and to women, and the varying roles they play. From his point-of-view, we watched the shifting dynamic in his family and his struggles with relationships with the rest of the people around him. 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