The beginning of "A portrait..."

In the first part of the novel, we are once again confronted with the world from a child’s perspective, which is (sometimes) difficult to follow. What differentiated this novel from the others we have read thus far was the way that Stephen would play with words and rhyme, which reminded me of something that a child would do. I feel like Joyce really captured what an actual child would do. His use of repetition also (like the last couple of novels) added to that “child-like” quality of the novel, even though it makes it tedious to read at times.

While I haven’t completed the novel yet, I can see now why Joyce is so highly praised. His use of language is quite different from any other author that I have read up to this point. And as pointed out in class today, it is interesting to see the shift in the quality of language before and after the encounter with the prostitute, and how in order for one to write at that level, they must first have the experience of “sin”.

What was most impressive about his character was his willingness to stand up for what he believes in, even if caused him trouble. When Heron and the other boy are telling him Tennyson is a better poet than Byron, Stephen tells them he is not, and if that makes Stephen a heretic, so be it. And then Stephen goes and reports his undeserved punishment to the rector. One wonders if this character will continue to be willing to stand up for himself and his belief as the novel progresses.