One theme that presents itself throughout this novel is the idea of the beauty of language. As Stephen develops during the course of the story, it can be observed how he gains a greater grasp of and appreciation for language as he evolves into the writer, artist, and individual he will become. This is demonstrated not only through specific instances in the novel, when Stephen seems to be in awe of words and language, but in the work as a whole, as the narrator’s diction and syntax progresses from the simplistic style of a child to a much more complex and sophisticated structure. At the start of the novel, Stephen has only a very basic grasp of language, with lines such as, “He was a baby tuckoo. The moocow came down the road where Betty Byrne lived: she sold lemon platt” (Joyce 3). As is typical for a child, Stephen cannot convey any real depth or meaning with his words. But as he enters school and becomes more educated, he becomes fascinated with the power of language and the images it can create- something that separates him from his peers, who are more interested in sports and games. By part five of the novel, a complete transformation has taken place within Steven, and out of the love of language that he possessed at a young age has grown the philosophical mind and unique voice of a true writer. The language of itself has become much more complex, incorporating vivid detail and figurative language to make Stephen’s world come to life. Often, he engages in deep discussions and debates with his fellow scholars regarding literature and philosophy, and even writes his own poetry. In one conversation in part five, he says, “Beauty expressed by the artist cannot awaken in us an emotion which is kinetic or a sensation which is purely physical. It awakens…an esthetic stasis, and ideal pity or an ideal terror, a stasis called forth, prolonged and at last dissolved by what I call the rhythm of beauty” (223). This line clearly shows the important role that art, literature, and language have played in Steven’s personal growth into an artist.
A passage in Part 5 which I felt to be particularly important to this novel is on pages 268 and 269. In this passage, Cranly and Stephen are coming to the end of a conversation in which Stephen has expressed his views, his struggle to follow his religion and to fit in with his society, and his plans for an uncertain future. Up until this point in the novel, Stephen has chosen to keep his thoughts and his struggles to himself, rarely confiding in anyone else. At this stage, Stephen has reached a point where he is no longer concerned with the opinions of those around him whom he has tried for so long to please without any success. He has finally embraced his individuality and found a sense of purpose in his art and his poetry. This passage shows a culmination of the journey which Stephen has struggled through throughout the story. He says, “I will not serve that in which I no longer believe whether it call itself my home, my fatherland or my church: and I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can…” (268-269). This shows just how much he has grown, when compared to the immorality that plagued his life in part 3 or the rigid religious practices that he followed in part 4. Following the rules of his society and pleasing his family and his church are no longer important when compared to the fulfillment of his newly realized potential. He goes on to say that, “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” (269). It takes a great deal of strength for Stephen to be able to leave everything that is familiar to him behind, especially knowing that it may be the biggest mistake he has ever made, but he is willing to take that risk in order to have a chance at real happiness. This passage, I believe, is the strongest evidence to show that Stephen has made a total transformation into an independent and self-driven individual.
While I can see how this novel has literary merit and certainly stands out from other well-known pieces of literature, I did not like this novel and would not recommend it to others. I think part of this comes from the fact that it was often difficult to understand. The novel started out with a tone that was so simplistic and childlike that it was impossible to obtain any meaning from it. By the time it ended, the language and events had become so complex and intricate that it was impossible to understand what was actually happening. I also disliked the structure of this novel. While I can appreciate the fact that its purpose is to follow the development of an artist, the fact that it had no concrete plot, no series of events, and no real direction of the story made it very difficult to get through. I felt lost at many times while reading this book, and I felt that the author’s intended meaning also got lost in the confusion of this novel. Personally, I prefer to read books that have a more defined storyline as opposed to the stream of consciousness in Portrait, which at times made me feel like I was trapped in Stephen’s head and going crazy. What also made this book difficult was the way that it jumped from one event to the next without any transitions, leaving me wondering what exactly was going on. Also, because of the structure as well as the setting of this piece, it was difficult to relate to on any level, which also made it less interesting to read. I think that Joyce had a lot of symbolism, metaphors and allusions in this story that I completely missed because of the time period of the writing and the complexity of the style. I do, however, think that Joyce made some very interesting points about the role of religion, expectations of society, personal growth and the importance of freedom and individuality. If you can get past the long, tangled sentences and the tedious lack of any real plot, I think this book does present some themes that are worth considering.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Poetry, Part 2
Birches by Robert Frost, page 288, poem #288.
The most prominent literary device which is evident throughout the poem as used to enrich the theme and tone is imagery. This poem incorporates descriptions of certain details in order to create the image of the birch trees, and to enhance their symbolism in the piece. Several particularly vivid lines describe the birch trees as follows: "Soon the sun's warmth makes them shed crystal shells/ Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust--/ Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away/ You'd think the inner dome of heaven had fallen." Later, the same birch trees are described in the following manner, "...climb black branches up a snow white trunk/ Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,/ But dipped its top and set me down again." The author selects these certain details in order to convey the beauty of the birch tree and its role in the poem. This imagery is also significant as the description of the same tree changes as the poem progresses, from a tree with branches bent from ice storms and from the children who swung from the branches, to a means of reaching up towards heaven and then bending back to earth again. The tree is symbolic of the beauty found in the simple blessings of life,and the way that aging affects a person's view of such things. This tree is an endless source of entertainment for young children, and is a simple reason to enjoy what time he has left on earth for an elderly man, while for a middle-aged person, it might just be a mundane tree.
Another literary device found in this poem is personification. The idea of truth is personified in this piece in order to show a contrast between a dull reality and a brighter, more romanticized and idealistic view of things. In the poem, Frost states, "But I was going to say when Truth broke in/ With all her matter-of-fact about the ice-storm/ I should prefer to have some boy bend them/ As he went out and in to fetch the cows-." In these lines, the idea of Truth is given a human personality and is portrayed as interrupting a beautiful daydream to interject the harsh and unpoetic reality. The narrator of this poem sees the birch trees and associates them with fond memories of his childhood, playing in fields and orchards, the trees worn and bent now, much as he is, from the passing of time and the many other children who have played amongst the trees. Truth shatters his recollection to say that it was probably just an ice storm. Giving the idea of truth a personality is used to show the contrast between Truth, who bluntly tells the reality of the situation, and a sentimental old man.
I enjoyed this poem because of the way it created a mental image for me of the birch trees and the carefree days that are described. I also liked the way the birch tree was used throughout the poem as a constant image, while the story around it shifted. This poem not only included a description and a central message, as most poems do, but also told a story and had a conclusion, unlike some other poems. I appreciated the way the author was able to take a simple object in nature- a birch tree- and give it so much symbolic significance, and create a story around this image. My favorite part of the poem was the last few lines, which I felt were not only very well-worded, but also very insightful and true. "Earth's the right place for love:/ I don't know where it's likely to go better." I liked the way the ending of this poem tied up all the loose ends, offered a moral of sorts, and ended "happily ever after."
The most prominent literary device which is evident throughout the poem as used to enrich the theme and tone is imagery. This poem incorporates descriptions of certain details in order to create the image of the birch trees, and to enhance their symbolism in the piece. Several particularly vivid lines describe the birch trees as follows: "Soon the sun's warmth makes them shed crystal shells/ Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust--/ Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away/ You'd think the inner dome of heaven had fallen." Later, the same birch trees are described in the following manner, "...climb black branches up a snow white trunk/ Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,/ But dipped its top and set me down again." The author selects these certain details in order to convey the beauty of the birch tree and its role in the poem. This imagery is also significant as the description of the same tree changes as the poem progresses, from a tree with branches bent from ice storms and from the children who swung from the branches, to a means of reaching up towards heaven and then bending back to earth again. The tree is symbolic of the beauty found in the simple blessings of life,and the way that aging affects a person's view of such things. This tree is an endless source of entertainment for young children, and is a simple reason to enjoy what time he has left on earth for an elderly man, while for a middle-aged person, it might just be a mundane tree.
Another literary device found in this poem is personification. The idea of truth is personified in this piece in order to show a contrast between a dull reality and a brighter, more romanticized and idealistic view of things. In the poem, Frost states, "But I was going to say when Truth broke in/ With all her matter-of-fact about the ice-storm/ I should prefer to have some boy bend them/ As he went out and in to fetch the cows-." In these lines, the idea of Truth is given a human personality and is portrayed as interrupting a beautiful daydream to interject the harsh and unpoetic reality. The narrator of this poem sees the birch trees and associates them with fond memories of his childhood, playing in fields and orchards, the trees worn and bent now, much as he is, from the passing of time and the many other children who have played amongst the trees. Truth shatters his recollection to say that it was probably just an ice storm. Giving the idea of truth a personality is used to show the contrast between Truth, who bluntly tells the reality of the situation, and a sentimental old man.
I enjoyed this poem because of the way it created a mental image for me of the birch trees and the carefree days that are described. I also liked the way the birch tree was used throughout the poem as a constant image, while the story around it shifted. This poem not only included a description and a central message, as most poems do, but also told a story and had a conclusion, unlike some other poems. I appreciated the way the author was able to take a simple object in nature- a birch tree- and give it so much symbolic significance, and create a story around this image. My favorite part of the poem was the last few lines, which I felt were not only very well-worded, but also very insightful and true. "Earth's the right place for love:/ I don't know where it's likely to go better." I liked the way the ending of this poem tied up all the loose ends, offered a moral of sorts, and ended "happily ever after."
Monday, January 3, 2011
Poetry, Part 1
The Imperfect Paradise by Linda Pastan, page 320-321, poem #262.
The most dominant literary device in this poem, which largely dictates the central theme, is a biblical allusion to the stories of the creation and the garden of Eden. These allusions are introduced in the first line of the poem and carry all the way through the piece. The first two lines state "If God had stopped work after the fifth day/ With Eden full of vegetables and fruits..." This is referring to the story in the Bible in which God created the world, as well as to the story of the garden of Eden. These first two lines suggest a world in which there are plants and animals (thus the reference to the fifth day, on which God created the animals), but there are no human beings (created on the sixth day.) The mention of the garden of Eden is also very significant because Eden was regarded as a paradise created by God, until the serpent's temptation led Adam and Eve to sin, thus introducing evil into God's paradise. This idea of a flawed humanity, and of the human race as being a source of evil and imperfection in the world, is the primary focus of this poem. The poet uses these allusions to pose the question of which is greater- the positive impact of humanity on the world, or human flaws and sins. In order to fully understand this meaning, it is essential to understand the nature of the allusion that the poem is based on.
Another literary device that contributes to the meaning is synecdoche, used in the last three lines of the poem as part of a rhetorical question to sum up the meaning of the poem. These lines ask, "Which would a wise and just creator choose:/ The green hosannas of a budding leaf/ Or the strict contract between love and grief?" In these lines, two very specific examples are used to represent two very broad opposite ideas. The green leaf is referring to the beauty and simplicity of nature when untouched by human influence, whereas the contrast between love and grief refers to a more complicated kind of beauty found within the human nature, and its impact on the world. The poet substitutes these smaller examples for a general idea in order to more clearly show the contrast between the simplicity and complexity. The poet also is able to emphasize these specific aspects of nature vs humanity in more vivid detail by using synecdoche.
I enjoyed this poem because I feel that it posed a very interesting question as to what a world untouched by humans would be like. The poet creates an image of what could be interpreted either as an untamed wilderness or a serene paradise, using vivid but concise descriptions as with "...a kingdom made of stems and roots," and "...picture postcards of the soul," two of my favorite lines in the poem. I appreciate the way in which the poet uses a series of rhetorical questions to presents two different sides of an idea, without ever taking a stance on one side or the other, leaving the reader to decide which is greater- nature's simple beauty, or complex human emotions, which may be associated with sin and flaws. I also like this poem because it was fairly straightforward, and the poet was able to discuss a complicated topic and provide a great deal of depth in relatively few lines. Many carefully chosen words and a few well placed question marks express a fundamental question and leave the answer open to the reader's opinion.
The most dominant literary device in this poem, which largely dictates the central theme, is a biblical allusion to the stories of the creation and the garden of Eden. These allusions are introduced in the first line of the poem and carry all the way through the piece. The first two lines state "If God had stopped work after the fifth day/ With Eden full of vegetables and fruits..." This is referring to the story in the Bible in which God created the world, as well as to the story of the garden of Eden. These first two lines suggest a world in which there are plants and animals (thus the reference to the fifth day, on which God created the animals), but there are no human beings (created on the sixth day.) The mention of the garden of Eden is also very significant because Eden was regarded as a paradise created by God, until the serpent's temptation led Adam and Eve to sin, thus introducing evil into God's paradise. This idea of a flawed humanity, and of the human race as being a source of evil and imperfection in the world, is the primary focus of this poem. The poet uses these allusions to pose the question of which is greater- the positive impact of humanity on the world, or human flaws and sins. In order to fully understand this meaning, it is essential to understand the nature of the allusion that the poem is based on.
Another literary device that contributes to the meaning is synecdoche, used in the last three lines of the poem as part of a rhetorical question to sum up the meaning of the poem. These lines ask, "Which would a wise and just creator choose:/ The green hosannas of a budding leaf/ Or the strict contract between love and grief?" In these lines, two very specific examples are used to represent two very broad opposite ideas. The green leaf is referring to the beauty and simplicity of nature when untouched by human influence, whereas the contrast between love and grief refers to a more complicated kind of beauty found within the human nature, and its impact on the world. The poet substitutes these smaller examples for a general idea in order to more clearly show the contrast between the simplicity and complexity. The poet also is able to emphasize these specific aspects of nature vs humanity in more vivid detail by using synecdoche.
I enjoyed this poem because I feel that it posed a very interesting question as to what a world untouched by humans would be like. The poet creates an image of what could be interpreted either as an untamed wilderness or a serene paradise, using vivid but concise descriptions as with "...a kingdom made of stems and roots," and "...picture postcards of the soul," two of my favorite lines in the poem. I appreciate the way in which the poet uses a series of rhetorical questions to presents two different sides of an idea, without ever taking a stance on one side or the other, leaving the reader to decide which is greater- nature's simple beauty, or complex human emotions, which may be associated with sin and flaws. I also like this poem because it was fairly straightforward, and the poet was able to discuss a complicated topic and provide a great deal of depth in relatively few lines. Many carefully chosen words and a few well placed question marks express a fundamental question and leave the answer open to the reader's opinion.
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