Bird Imagery In Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man Essay Example For Students

Bird Imagery In Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man Essay Bird Imagery in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man The works of twentieth-century Irish writer James Joyce resound vividly with a unique humanity and genius. His novel, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, published in 1916, is a convincing journey through the inner mind and spirit of Stephen Dedalus. Portrayed with incredible fluency and realism, imagery guides the reader through the swift current of growth tangible in the juvenile hero. Above all heavy imagery in the novel is the recurring bird motif. Joyce uses birds to ultimately relate Stephen to the Daedelus myth of the hawklike man; however, these images also exemplify Stephens daily experiences, and longing for true freedom page169. By using imagery of birds as threatening, images of beauty, and images of escape, the reader can unify the work and better understand Stephens tumultuous journey through life. The opening scene of Chapter one portrays a conversation between a very young Stephen and Dante, Stephens nanny. She scolds him for an unconventional thought, warning him that the eagles will come and pull out eyes8. This obviously graphic image suggests to Stephen the threatening presence of eagles that are minding all his thoughts. Joyces vividness with such gruesome imagery has a real effect on Stephen; he repeats Dantes caution in his childish song, chanting: Pull out his eyes, Apologize 8. A playful, yet sensitive Stephen must immediately conform Pfeiffer 2 even his innocent unorthodox actions in fear of the threatening phantom eagles to save the consequences they will bring. His thoughts are threatened again by birds when he meets an acquaintance named Heron when walking down a dark street. Stephen immediately notes the peculiar image of Herons bird face as well as a birds name76. Through descriptive images of Herons mobile face, beaked like a birds and his close-set prominent eyes which were light and inexpressive, Joyce enables the reader to not only envision his birdlike characteristics but also adds insight to Stephens thoughts toward his unchaste peers 76. Heron taunts Stephen, sardonically naming him a model youth who doesnt flirt and doesnt damn anything or damn all 76. This blatant remark by the bird-like boy is an obvious verbal threat to Stephens character. Continued as Heron and his friend viscously chide Stephen for his admiration for Byrons poetry, Joyces bird imagery bears in this scene a restraint of Stephens uniqueness by threatening his self-expression. As Stephen mentally develops in the progression of the novel, he begins his search for the freedom and power of his soul, as the great artificer whose name he bore would have done 170. Stephen is now at the beach, pondering his new sense of maturity as he grows near to the wild heart of life171. Walking down a rocky slope, he takes notice to a girl alone and still, gazing out to sea171. Stephen watches her, and awed by her likeness of a strange and beautiful sea-bird, he realizes she is the epitome of all that is  the wonder of mortal beauty171. Painted by Joyces radiant imagery of the darkplumaged dove he sees before him, this rationalization is the basis of Stephens internal epiphany; she is, to Pfeiffer 3 Stephen, an envoy from the fair courts of life 171, 172. This wholesome bird-like girl with long slender bare legs that were delicate as a cranes, gives Stephen a perception of a true virtuous beauty he has never known before, and a calling to recreate life out of life, as is the role of the true artist he aspires to be 171, 172. A few years later on the steps of a library adolescent Stephen stands, wondering what birds are they as he watches dozens of birds fly free above him, their darting quivering bodies flying clearly against the sky 224. Now more restless and philosophical, he wonders at their images. Joyces truly audible imagery of the birds cry that was shrill and clear and fine and falling like threads of silken light is, for Stephen, inhuman clamour his ears 224. Stephen Dedalus sees solace in the birds flutter of wings; they are the fundamental symbol of the freedom he is ready to have for his own 224. .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 , .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 .postImageUrl , .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 , .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99:hover , .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99:visited , .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99:active { border:0!important; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99:active , .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99 .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u86f10c56517a025abf73977b17c84d99:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Novel Oliver Twist EssayHe wishes to have their liberation from the society he knows as he reflects on: The correspondence of birds to things of the intellect and of how the creatures of the air have their knowledge and know their times and seasons because they, unlike man, are in the order of their life and have not perverted that order by reason224. In order to seek true emancipation, Stephen must go away for they were birds ever going and comingever leaving the homes they had built to wander225. Stephen resolves to leave his Irish homeland; free and wild as his images of the birds. Pfeiffer 4 The attributes which mold Stephen Dedalus growing integrity and life 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, Stephens connection with bird imagery helps to define his search for a role in his society, and helps readers define and identify with his quest.