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

Bird Imagery in Portrait of the Artist as a Young ManThe works of twentieth-century Irish writer James 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. Portrayed with incrediblefluency and realism, resource guides the reader through the swift current ofgrowth tangible in the juvenile hero. Above all heavy mental imaginativeness in the novelis the recur bird motif. Joyce uses birds to ultimately relate Stephen tothe Daedelus myth of the hawklike man however, these images alsoexemplify Stephens daily experiences, and longing 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 tumultuous journey through life. The opening scene of Chapter one portrays a conversation betweena very young Stephen and Dante, Stephens nanny. She scolds him for anunconventional thought, warning him that the eagles will come and pullout your eyes. This obviously graphical image suggests to Stephen thethreatening presence of eagles that are minding all his thoughts. Joycesvividness with such gruesome imagery has a real effect on Stephen herepeats Dantes caution in his childish song, chanting Pull out his eyes,Apologize. A playful, yet sensitive Stephen must immediately conformevenhis innocent unorthodox actions in fear of the threatening phantomeagles to save the consequences they will bring. His thoughts arethreatened again by birds when he meets an acquaintance named Heronwhen walking wipe out a dark street. Stephen immediately notes the peculi... ...of how the creaturesof the air 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 make towander. Stephen resolves to leave his Irish homeland free and wildas his images of the birds. The attributes which mold Stephen Dedalus growing 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 identify with his quest.