A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

At a glance:

Author: James Joyce
First Published: 1914
Type of Work: Kunstlerroman
Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction, Bildungsroman
Subjects: Maturation or coming of age, Culture, Language or languages, Values, Family or family life, Twentieth century, Nineteenth century, Art or artists, Sin or Original sin, Friendship, Schools or school life, Writing, Creative process, Catholics or Catholic Church, Boys, Students or student life, Ireland or Irish people, Naivete
Locales: Dublin, Ireland

Young Stephen Dedalus goes away to school and suffers greatly from his shyness and poor eyesight. Christmas at home is unpleasant because of the political arguments which divide his father and aunt, as they do all Ireland. Back at school, Stephen earns acclaim from the other students for speaking out against his unjust punishment.

Winning a literary award, he shares the money with his family and then buys his first sexual experience, which turns out unsatisfactorily. While on a religious retreat, he begins to believe that the experience with the prostitute will damn him and he...

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

At a glance:

Join eNotes