A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Focusing on the journey of self-discovery, the narrative follows Stephen Dedalus, reflecting James Joyce's own experiences as an Irish Catholic in Dublin. The novel, originally envisioned as a lengthy autobiographical work, was condensed into five chapters that utilize free indirect speech, allowing readers to engage with Stephen's evolving consciousness. As he transitions from childhood to early adulthood, the language adapts to mirror his artistic growth and rebellion against authority, marking Joyce's significant contribution to modernist literature.