Portrait Theme

Entrapment

           Throughout the novel, Steven is consistently tortured by entrapment.  It is one of the novel’s on-going themes.  He is trapped by his need to be accepted.  He is trapped by his sexual urges, sexual behaviors, and the guilt caused by such.  He is trapped by his parents, society, and religion.  

          Steven is an extremist, and each portion of his life is dictated by his most recent obsession.  He becomes trapped within his obsessions.  For example, when he was trapped by his sexual desires, sex and the idea of sex overtook every aspect of his life.  He couldn’t even look at the word “Feotus” without being driven into masturbating.  When his guiltiness overtook his life, he wasn’t able to look at overcoats without seeing dying and decaying bodies hanging in cages. 

          This entrapment that Steven had to face throughout the novel, in multiple forms, was symbolically represented by his physical entrapment in Ireland.  Because of the time period and the culture, he wasn’t allowed to leave the island. 

Portrait Quote

“I will not serve." page 260

          Though this quote was short, it was too the point.  It was one of the strongest quotes in the novel.  An ongoing conflict that Stephen faces is his conformity and his inability to stand up and even fully believe his honest beliefs.  One simple line is able to exemplify Stephen’s transformation at the point at which it became complete. 

          In saying that he would not serve, this meant (indirectly) that Stephen was refusing to serve society. He was refusing to serve his own sexual desires.  He was refusing to serve his parents by ignoring what he wanted, and he was refusing to serve his religion in ways that he was not destined to serve it in. 

          This quote shows Stephen’s growth.  Along with showing the ideal mindset.  Through this quote, the novel is satisfactorily completed. 

"I will not serve"!!!

Portrait Reflection

                A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man was an enjoyable book with literary merit and subject matter that I felt helped to expand mind.  Though it wasn’t easy to read, the religious allusions, descriptions of Hell, and sexual scenes (that, when analyzed, have a much deeper and significant meaning) were enjoyable, thought provoking, and brought up intellectual conversations that I found be enjoyable.

                Another aspect of the work that drew my attention and provided for a great read was the accurate description of Ireland and the portrayal of the struggle that many young boys had to go through when society and family pressured them into religion and priesthood.  Though most young men did not go through experiences or mental torture so severe, the general struggles and ideas were similar. 

                One of my favorite details of the novel is Joyce’s new take on religion.  Joyce took religion and placed it into a new light.  Instead of ridiculing or praising religion, he was able to provide the social commentary that the affects of religion depend on how each person interprets religion.  The contrasting ideas from when all Stephen was able to see was Hell and when Stephen felt safe because he had confessed his sins show two contrasting aspects of the religion.  Religion can be something that scares people and makes them act like people they are not.  However, religion can also be something that makes people feel safe and causes people to behave in a more positively looked upon way.