Bird Imagery in Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Essay -- essays

Bird Imagery in portraiture of the creative person as a Young ManThe works of twentieth-century Irish writer jam Joyce resoundvividly with a unique humanity and genius. His novel, A Portrait of theArtist as a Young Man, published in 1916, is a convincing journey throughthe inner mind and spirit of Stephen Dedalus. visualized with incrediblefluency and realism, imagination guides the proofreader through the swift new ofgrowth tangible in the juvenile hero. Above all loaded down(p) imagery in the novelis the recurring bird motif. Joyce uses birds to ultimately have-to doe with Stephen tothe Daedelus myth of the hawklike man however, these images alsoexemplify Stephens daily experiences, and passion for true freedom. By using imagery of birds as threatening, images of beauty, andimages of escape, the reader can unify the work and better understandStephens unquiet journey through life. The opening scene of Chapter one portrays a converse betweena very young Stephen and Dan te, Stephens nanny. She scolds him for anunconventional thought, admonishment him that the eagles will come and pullout your eyes. This obviously vivid image suggests to Stephen thethreatening presence of eagles that are minding all his thoughts. Joyces semblance with such gruesome imagery has a real effect on Stephen herepeats Dantes caution in his childish song, chanting wrench out his eyes,Apologize. A playful, yet sensitive Stephen must now conformevenhis innocent unorthodox actions in fear of the threatening phantomeagles to fork over the consequences they will bring. His thoughts arethreatened again by birds when he meets an champion named Heronwhen walking down a dark street. Stephen immediately notes the peculi... ...of how the creaturesof the lineage have their knowledge and know their times and seasons becausethey, unlike man, are in the order of their life and have not perverted thatorder by reason. In order to seek true emancipation, Stephen must go away for they werebirds ever going and coming...ever leaving the homes they had built towander. Stephen resolves to leave behind his Irish homeland free and wildas his images of the birds. The attributes which mold Stephen Dedalus developing integrity andlife decisions stem from the actions which surround him. The reader associates Stephen by the images he encounters and his reaction to them. In James Joyces A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stephensconnection with bird imagery helps to define his search for a role in hissociety, and helps readers define and mention with his quest.