1. Discuss Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man as a Künstlerroman.
Künstlerroman, (German: “artist’s novel”), class of Bildungsroman, or apprenticeship novel, that deals with
the youth and development of an individual who becomes—or is on the threshold of becoming—a painter,
musician, or poet. The classic example is James Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916). Unlike
many Bildungsroman, where the hero often dreams of becoming a great artist but settles for being a mere
useful citizen, the Künstlerroman usually ends on a note of arrogant rejection of the commonplace life.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a semi-autobiographical novel where the main character ‘Stephen Dedalus
Joyce’ is a mythical representation of himself. The story shows us how he grows as a Jesuit in childhood, how he goes
to Paris to fulfil his dreams and struggle between finding his identity.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel by the Irish modernist writer James Joyce. It follows the intellectual,
moral and spiritual development of a young Catholic Irishman, Stephen Dedalus, and his struggle against the
restrictions his culture imposes. Portrait can be placed in the tradition of the bildungsroman – novels that trace the
personal development of the protagonist, usually from childhood through to adulthood.
James Joyce is considered to be one of the significant writers of the modernist era. He was a versatile
writer and exploited the technique of stream of consciousness in his novels. His work Ulysses (1922) is a
masterpiece of modernism. The novel A Portrait of a Young Artist as a Man deals with the modern issues
of religious extremism, sexuality, self and the development of artist’s growth both intellectually and
spiritually.
The novel is a Kunstlerroman because it gives a discourse on the protagonist development as an artist.
Stephen is an alter ego of James Joyce himself and One could see his development as an artist and the
odyssey of finding both spiritual and intellectual growth.
The main characteristics of Kunstlerroman novel is the development of self in the main protagonist. The
main protagonist undergoes a series of awakening both intellectually and spiritually. Stephen Dedalus
grew up in a strict Catholic temperament where he was unable to comprehend the reason for not able
to marry or date a Protestant girl and how it was considered to be sinful and derogatory to the Catholic
community. The protagonist self-developed by multiple questions that he had regarding the religious
extremism and questioned its value in the society.
The maturity of self is seen in Stephen Dedalus when he learned to stand up for himself in the boarding
school. He complaint one of the teachers to the principal to seek justice and he earned respect from
other kids and children. It is important to note that the development of self and personality is necessary
for the growth as an artist in life to philosophically think and translate into writing.
The novel also projects that Stephen Dedalus was growing both intellectually and spiritually as one of
his fundamental selves. He was asking multiple questions regarding the religious indoctrination. He was
conflicting with his self between his inner sexual desires and a religious belief. His suppression of
religious conscience and sleeping with the prostitutes reveals his Path to spiritual journey as he realises
his sins later while attending the sermon. However, as he was growing up, he realises that religious life
and a priestly life is mundane and hence he decides to suppress his religious life. This also shows his
growth and development of self where he tries to civilize himself the right conscience and things that
are harmful for a person.
Futhermore, the important aspect of Kunstlerroman novel is the development of a protagonist as an
artist. Stephen Dedalus pursued his passion on aesthetics and beauty where he decides to show his
passion to his friends yet it was unrelatable to his friends. Stephen’s development of an artist has shown
that one must pursue alone to cause their dreams and his leaving of Ireland clearly projects his exile and
isolation only to pursue one’s dreams.
Künstlerroman, (German: “artist’s novel”), class of Bildungsroman, or apprenticeship novel, that deals with
the youth and development of an individual who becomes—or is on the threshold of becoming—a painter,
musician, or poet. The classic example is James Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916). Unlike
many Bildungsroman, where the hero often dreams of becoming a great artist but settles for being a mere
useful citizen, the Künstlerroman usually ends on a note of arrogant rejection of the commonplace life.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a semi-autobiographical novel where the main character ‘Stephen Dedalus
Joyce’ is a mythical representation of himself. The story shows us how he grows as a Jesuit in childhood, how he goes
to Paris to fulfil his dreams and struggle between finding his identity.
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel by the Irish modernist writer James Joyce. It follows the intellectual,
moral and spiritual development of a young Catholic Irishman, Stephen Dedalus, and his struggle against the
restrictions his culture imposes. Portrait can be placed in the tradition of the bildungsroman – novels that trace the
personal development of the protagonist, usually from childhood through to adulthood.
James Joyce is considered to be one of the significant writers of the modernist era. He was a versatile
writer and exploited the technique of stream of consciousness in his novels. His work Ulysses (1922) is a
masterpiece of modernism. The novel A Portrait of a Young Artist as a Man deals with the modern issues
of religious extremism, sexuality, self and the development of artist’s growth both intellectually and
spiritually.
The novel is a Kunstlerroman because it gives a discourse on the protagonist development as an artist.
Stephen is an alter ego of James Joyce himself and One could see his development as an artist and the
odyssey of finding both spiritual and intellectual growth.
The main characteristics of Kunstlerroman novel is the development of self in the main protagonist. The
main protagonist undergoes a series of awakening both intellectually and spiritually. Stephen Dedalus
grew up in a strict Catholic temperament where he was unable to comprehend the reason for not able
to marry or date a Protestant girl and how it was considered to be sinful and derogatory to the Catholic
community. The protagonist self-developed by multiple questions that he had regarding the religious
extremism and questioned its value in the society.
The maturity of self is seen in Stephen Dedalus when he learned to stand up for himself in the boarding
school. He complaint one of the teachers to the principal to seek justice and he earned respect from
other kids and children. It is important to note that the development of self and personality is necessary
for the growth as an artist in life to philosophically think and translate into writing.
The novel also projects that Stephen Dedalus was growing both intellectually and spiritually as one of
his fundamental selves. He was asking multiple questions regarding the religious indoctrination. He was
conflicting with his self between his inner sexual desires and a religious belief. His suppression of
religious conscience and sleeping with the prostitutes reveals his Path to spiritual journey as he realises
his sins later while attending the sermon. However, as he was growing up, he realises that religious life
and a priestly life is mundane and hence he decides to suppress his religious life. This also shows his
growth and development of self where he tries to civilize himself the right conscience and things that
are harmful for a person.
Futhermore, the important aspect of Kunstlerroman novel is the development of a protagonist as an
artist. Stephen Dedalus pursued his passion on aesthetics and beauty where he decides to show his
passion to his friends yet it was unrelatable to his friends. Stephen’s development of an artist has shown
that one must pursue alone to cause their dreams and his leaving of Ireland clearly projects his exile and
isolation only to pursue one’s dreams.
