“A Portrait of the Artist as a Young

Man” James Joyce - Chapter 1

Summary

Mary Harris, Jordan Edens, Lily Jaynes, Liberty Carter, Bianca Plowman, Natalie Alderton, Sydney Rau-Kim, Allison Mulvehill

Chapter SummaryAllison Mulvehill

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● Introduction to Stephen & Clongowes Wood College

● Other boys treat him poorly

● Stephen is unhappy, home sickness, gets sick & stays in the

infirmary

● Returns home for Christmas - greeted with a Christmas dinner

where his father & guests argue about religion & politics

● Once returned to school, is wrongfully punished for lying about

broken glasses

● With the support of his friends, Stephen stands up to the rector &

the situation is remedied

(Clongowes Wood College)

1.Themes, Motifs, & SymbolsNatalie Alderton & Lily Jaynes

Themes, Motifs,& SymbolsSensory Experiences: “The fire rose and fell on the wall. It was

like waves...he saw the sea of waves, long dark waves rising and falling, dark under the moonless night. A tiny light twinkled at the

pierhead…” (Joyce 14).

- Childlike perspective- Vivid descriptions- Seems to notice world around him more than everyone else.- Pays attention to (somewhat) insignificant details- Curiosity surrounding the world

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Themes, Motifs,& SymbolsMotifs: Good/Bad, Hot/Cold, Light/Dark: “he felt a warm glow

creeping up from the cold shivering sheets…” (Joyce 14). - Warmth often associated with affection & happiness- Cold often portrays authority & order

“We are all sinners and black sinners,” (Joyce 31). “Eileen had long white hands,” (Joyce 35). - Black = terror/cruelty & darkness within the soul - White = purity, gentleness (often paired with soft & comforting

diction)- Despite good intentions & genuineness - met with harshness

that makes him insecure5

Themes, Motifs,& SymbolsTension Between Protestants and Catholics: “when they were

grown up he was going to marry Eileen. He hid under the table. His mother said: --O, Stephen will apologize. Dante said:--O, if not,

the eagles will come and pull out his eyes” (Joyce 1).

- Stephen’s conditioning = stay away from protestants - Distinct divide between the two religions,- Learns not to associate- Reflection of restrictions Joyce felt himself

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Themes, Motifs,& SymbolsPerceived Hypocrisy and Betrayal of Catholicism: “We are an

unfortunate priestridden race and always were and always will be till

the end of the chapter,” (Joyce 37).

- Recognizes the oppressive manner of the church & priests (in their

act of superiority)

- Necessity to follow hierarchy of the church

- People feel they have no control of their lives

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Themes, Motifs,& SymbolsPerceived Hypocrisy and Betrayal of Catholicism: “Father Arnell…

went among them, helping the boys with his gentle words… his voice

was very gentle and soft,” (Joyce 52).

- Contrast to harsh punishment previously delivered

- The church controls through fear

- Cruelty disguised through loving words & false security

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Themes, Motifs,& SymbolsEvaluation/Establishment of Identity: “it was a very big thing to think about everything and everywhere. Only God could do that”

(Joyce 8).

- Identity is shaped by family, religion, & schooling- Taught to be devoutly Catholic & stay away from Protestants- Strict education = foreshadowing of Stephen questioning his

religion- Stephen is very impressionable (at this point)

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Themes, Motifs,& SymbolsIsolation/Differentness/Weakness: “He kept on the fringe of his

line… feigning to run now and then. He felt his body small and weak amid the throng of players…” (Joyce 4).

- Alienated from the others due to small stature- Other boys view him as weak & bully him

“But you could not have a green rose. But perhaps somewhere in the world you could,” (Joyce 9).

- Curiosity of the world reflects his differentness- He’s alone in his thoughts & again, isolated

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Themes, Motifs,& SymbolsBeauty/Art/Books/Words: “The word was beautiful: wine. It made

you think of dark purple because the grapes were dark purple that grew in Greece outside houses like white temples” (Joyce

25).

- Fascinated by words, literature, & the natural world - These things will come into play later in his life.

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Themes, Motifs,& SymbolsSymbols: Water, Bird Imagery, Labyrinth Imagery: “When you

wet the bed first it is warm then it gets cold. His mother put on

the oilsheet,” (Joyce 3).

- Stephen is taught that a natural thing like wetting the bed is

wrong & the wet sheets are then replaced to dry ones

- Wetness represents the natural feelings one has and are

viewed as inappropriate and wrong

- Dry then symbolizes learned behavior & what is socially

acceptable 12

Themes, Motifs,& SymbolsSymbols: Water, Bird Imagery, Labyrinth Imagery:

“A priest would not be a priest if he did not tell his flock what is

right and what is wrong,” (Joyce 30).

- Alludes to procession as a flock of birds

- As a flock, each bird follows the bird at the point of the V, in

this case the priest is the point, & the people follow him

blindly

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Themes, Motifs,& Symbols“The Argument”: “No God for Ireland! He cried. We have had too

much God in Ireland. Away with God!” (Joyce 20).

- Uncle Charles is an Irish Nationalist & Dante is extremely

devout Catholic

- Dante believes priests were right to abandon his cause

because he was a sinner.

- Leads to Uncle relenting that Ireland doesn’t need God.

- A moment which greatly impacted Stephen because it forced

him to think about complicated issues he didn’t understand.14

2.History/GovernmentJordan Edens & Liberty Carter

History/GovernmentCharles Stewart Parnell: “The brush with the maroon velvet back

was for Michael Davitt and the brush with the green velvet back

was for Parnell,” (Joyce 4).

- Michael Davitt & Charles Stewart Parnell are nationalist Irish

leaders who supported Irish Separatists Cause in the 1870’s &

1880’s.

- Dante’s brushes reflect her backing of Parnell’s ideas of

wanting to seperate from England. Until she decides he is a

bad person and tears the green from the brush. 16

History/GovernmentThe Fenian Movement: “Didn’t they denounce the fenian

movement from the pulpit and in the confession box?” (Joyce 44).

- The Fenian Movement was a secret revolutionary society organized in 1858 to achieve Irish independence from England with force.

- Simon & Mr. Casey are loyal to Parnell & the movement pre religion.

- Dante values religion over Ireland & that Parnell is fundamentally bad due to his actions.

- Theme of England vs. Ireland

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History/GovernmentTerence Bellew MacManus: “And didn’t they dishonour the

ashes of Terence Bellew MacManus?” (Joyce 44).

- An Irish separatist who participated in the Young Irelander

Rebellion of 1848.

- The Catholic Church attempted to stop funeral memorials

from happening but Fenian show of strength disabled any

hope of stopping the ceremonies.

- Theme of nationality & religion.

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History/GovernmentArchibald Hamilton Rowan: “That was where Hamilton Rowan

had passed and the marks of the soldiers’ slugs were there,”

(Joyce 66).

- Founding member of the Dublin Society of United Irishmen

- Previous member of radical reform group “Killyleagh

Volunteers.”

- Despite wealth & privilege, once he moved back to Ireland,

Rowan became strong advocate for Irish freedom.

- Illustrates the theme of Separatism vs. the Catholic Church.19

History/GovernmentLord Leitrim’s coachman: “They are the Lord’s anointed, Dante

said. They are an honour to their country.” (Joyce 21).

- Lord Leitrim's coachman was more loyal to his English

landlord than to his own fellow Irishmen that assassinated

Lord Leitrim

- This is significant to the text because Mr. Dedalus & Dante

were arguing about the Church’s involvement in politics

specifically the lack of respect from Catholics

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History/GovernmentMichael Davitt: “That was like the two brushes in Dante’s

press, the brush with the green velvet back for Parnell and the

brush with the maroon velvet back for Michael Davitt. But he had

not told Fleming to colour them those colours.” (Joyce).

- Irish Republican/conservative

- Parliamentary leader who supported the Sepretisms cause in

the 1870s & 1880s along with Parnell

- The maroon velvet brush is supposed to represent Dante’s

support for Michael Davitt & his political views21

History/GovernmentCompare Irish politics: “It is religion, Dante said again. They are

right. They must direct their flocks. - And preach politics from the altar, is it? asked Mr Dedalus. Certainly, said Dante. It is a question of public morality. A priest would not be a priest if he did not tell

his flock what is right and what is wrong.” (Joyce 19).

- Founding member of the Dublin Society of United Irishmen & was previously a member of the radical reform group Killyleagh Volunteers.

- Despite his wealth & privilege, once he moved back to Ireland, Rowan became a strong advocate for Irish freedom.

- Illustrates the theme of Separatism vs. the Catholic Church.22

3.GreekMythologyBianca Plowman & Sydney RauKim

Greek MythologyDaedalus – “The Great Artificer”: His soul had arisen from the grave of boyhood, spurning her graveclothes. Yes! Yes! Yes! He

would create proudly out of the freedom and power of his soul, as the great artificer whose name he bore, a living thing, new and

soaring and beautiful, impalpable, imperishable.” (Joyce).- Connect to Stephen Dedalus, who is lost in his school &

trapped in his mind. - Finds himself filing “out of the rooms and along the

corridors”(Joyce 17) just as Daedalus found himself roaming the maze.

- Frequently read about Stephen Dedalus not communicating his opinions because of his recurring fear of interaction (similar to being trapped in his head.)

-

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Greek MythologyKing Minos: “He was a strong character, but he was also very

harsh, and not well liked. As the ruler of one of the most powerful nations of the ancient world, he was greatly feared and respected by all the neighbouring kingdoms.” (https://www.makrigialos.com).

- King Minos mirrors Father Dolan. - Similar to King Minos’ power, Father Dolan has power over the

students. - Father Dolan used his power in a harsh manner (like Minos)

when he hit Stephen Dedalus hard enough to make tears fall “out of his eyes and down his flaming cheeks”. (Joyce 52)

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Greek MythologyMinos’ wife and the bull: “We go to the house of God, in all

humility to pray to our maker and not to hear election addresses”(Joyce 19).

- Dante is extremely focused on her passion for politics and trusting in what her priest is inform her about them

- Mr. Casey provides a rebuttal as he states^^^- Dante pushes away her friends because of her strong stance

about politics in the church, mirroring how Pasiphae is also passionate for the bull just & also pushes away her husband that she loves because of the curse to love the bull.

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Greek MythologyThe Minotaur: “The Minotaur remained in the Labyrinth receiving annual offerings of youths and maidens to eat.” (https://www.ancient.eu/Minotaur/)

- Relates to the concept of Stephen Dedalus overthinking. - The minotaur is the monster of the labyrinth just like

overthinking is in Stephen Dedalus’ mind.- Stephan switches answering the boys to avoid being made fun

of but still gets laughed at. He begins to overthink the joke & ponders about what “the right answer to the question” (Joyce 11) was.

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Greek MythologyThe Labyrinth: “In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth was an

elaborate, confusing structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos. Its function

was to hold the Minotaur” (www.makrigialos.com).- Instances of mental paralysis where he doesn’t say what he’s

thinking because he’s internalyzing his opinions.- Daedalus is stuck in the labyrinth = Stephen Dedalus is stuck

in his head. - Stephan thinks to himself about how the punishment “was

unfair and cruel” (Joyce 53), but when the later asked if he told the teacher that he had already written home for new glasses he responds “No, sir” (Joyce 59)

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Greek MythologyThe Wings: “ Using wax, wood and feathers, Daedalus created two pairs of wings - one for himself and one for his son, Icarus. They used these wings to escape the tower and fly away over the sea.”

(https://www.makrigialos.com).

- The wings portray a sense of freedom in Stephan & Icarus/ lives.

- For Icarus, wings = a way to escape from both the minotaur and the labyrinth & full fill his freedom.

- For Stephen, wings = his freedom in a sense of him building up enough courage to speak to the rector. “Faster and faster he hurried on through the gloomy excitedly.” (Joyce 39)”

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Greek MythologyIcarus’ fall: “I will not say nothing. I will defend my church and

my religion when it is insulted and spit on by renegade catholics” (Joyce 22).

- Icarus’ falls due to arrogance - Mirrored in the book with Dante & Mr. Casey: intense

conversation over church leaders & their managements of the church.

- Shortly after statement,^^^ Dante leaves dinner & enables unresolved tension between them.

- Both are so stubborn that neither of them will listen to what the other one is trying to say.

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Kahoot!

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Thank You!

Mary Harris, Jordan Edens, Lily Jaynes, Liberty Carter, Bianca Plowman, Natalie Alderton, Sydney Rau-Kim, Allison Mulvehill