A Nicens Little Boy Named Baby Tuckoo

In the first section of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce, we are introduced to the many characters that influence and shape the main protagonist, Stephen Dedalus.  Although we are only given Stephen’s home and family environment in this section, ideas of mine are beginning to form on how these dynamics will shape Stephen’s personality later on in life.

In the first section of the book, which only amounts to a little over a page, we get a glimpse of how Stephen was as a infant and his family environment that helped shape him as he gets older.  As a child, Stephen’s father used to tell him fictional stories that Stephen could enjoy and relate too.  With these stories, we can see how strong the father son dynamic is, for Mr. Dedalus was able to connect with Stephen at a young age by strengthening both of their imaginations in the tales that he told.  As for Stephen’s mother, in the first section we get how she “had a nicer smell than his father” (page 3).  Given this information, we can infer that Stephen’s incipient stages brought about many warm and pleasant feelings towards both his father and mother, and that they were prominent figures in his life.  (But it may also have caused him to become a little timid as he grows up because he is so attached to this nice, perfect, and fictional world that his father has created for him, and we see examples of this when we read how Stephen deals with “the fellows”).  

The next significant character in Stephen’s life would be Dante.  She is Stephen’s nanny and seems to be very opinionated when it comes to religion. (We experience more of this when reading section three of chapter one at the christmas dinner table during the fight between her, Mr. Dedalus, and Mr. Casey).  But in the first section, we see how Dante teaches Stephen to associate the religious figures Michael Davitt with maroon and Parnell with green.  We also see that when Stephen has gone or said something wrong that offends Dante, his mother tells her that he will apologize, and Dante adds that “ if not, the eagles will come and pull out his eyes” (page 4).  With these words, Stephen escapes into his own mind and begins to make a rhyming phrase out of them.

Pull out his eyes,

Apologise,

Apologise,

Pull out his eyes.

Apologise,

Pull out his eyes,

Pull out his eyes,

Apologise.

(page 4).

Although this rhyming scheme may be seen as insignificant at the time, it shows a significant development where Stephan has begun playing with words (of which we know will ultimately lead to him becoming a full blown artist in the end).  

We also get a short glimpse of Uncle Charles. But all we read is that he is older than Stephen’s mom, his dad, and Dante.  And finally, we are introduced to Eileen Vance, whom Stephen decides he will marry when they grow up.  Although the significance of this is not seen yet, throughout chapter one, we do see Stephen sporadically mention Eileen and how nice her ivory hands are.  

Although this section is only just over a page, we already have a glimpse of how each character is forming and how they all play a part in Stephen’s life.  We can also see how Stephen’s home environment and family dynamics will shape his personality later on in the book.  

PS: I wrote this before we finished chapter one.  Since we are already at the beginning of chapter four, I now know how each of these characters I mention in this post (of which I implied to be significant influences throughout Stephen’s life), will soon drop off out of Stephen’s life...My bad.

When do you “Come of Age”?

I initially when I read the phrase “Coming of Age”, I think of a typical underdog struggling to find his true identity, and when he finally does, he becomes the hero of the story.  In a sense, I generally link Coming of Age novels with Heroes Journey novels (of which I suppose this post will consequently serve as a decent transition from Heroes Journey to Coming of Age).  But when I try to relate to a focal Coming of Age moment in American society, I get a whole new viewpoint.  

It can be argued that there are numerous times in our lives where we “Come of Age”.  In these modern days, you really can’t pinpoint when your exact coming of age moment is your life, because everyone is different and people develop in unique and in independent ways. Personally, I believe that most of these moments revolve around college.  Finally completing the college process (which includes applying and getting in to a university), going to college (moving in and adjusting to the new college environment), and/ or graduating from college could all be considered pivotal Coming of Age moment in our lives.  But it doesn’t just have to be about college either; getting your first job, marrying a significant other, starting a family, etc.  All these are milestones in one’s life and provide an experience that help define who we are.  We all go through these processes differently, and that’s what makes us find ourselves.  

Personally, I believe the main coming of age moment in our lives is when we graduate college.  At this moment, you have learned how to study and usually live on your own.  You’ve learned how to start over, new friends, new teachers, new classes, new environment, etc.  Not to mention, after college, you tend to have a feel for what you want to do with your life.  It’s a great process that can be experienced differently for every person.  Although I do believe you do grow and develop more once you move on from college, you will always remember your personal college experience, and how it shaped you.  

Now, discovering your true heroic self and going to college are two very different “Coming of Age” moments, but they both serve the same purpose: to find one’s self.  Whether it takes riding to battle on horseback with a sword in one hand and shield in another, or packing up your bags and heading off to a university to study, a “Coming of Age” moment in one’s life is essential and is achieved differently across fictional and non fictional worlds.