August 08, 2023

#42 🧑‍🎨 Portrait of the Artist as a Man by James Joyce

1 hour 2 minutes

About the Episode

In this 3rd episode of Season 4, we read Portrait of the Artist as a Man by James Joyce

Rich in details that offer vital insights into Joyce's art, this masterpiece of semi-autobiographical fiction remains essential reading in any program of study in modern literature. The book follows its main character, Stephen Dedalus, from childhood to adulthood on a quest to find identity. Through art, Dedalus gradually emancipates himself from family, religious, and claims of Ireland itself. Both an insight into Joyce's life and childhood, and a unique work of modernist fiction, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel of sexual awakening, religious rebellion and the essential search for voice and meaning that every nascent artist must face in order to blossom fully into themselves.

We hope you enjoy!

About the Show
Hosted by novelists and entrepreneurs Daniel Breyer & Jeremy Streich, Good Scribes Only is a podcast for curious minds to explore, challenge, and think differently through books. In Season 4 we’re traveling through the 20th century, decade by decade, because Dan really wanted to see what the world was like before plumbing was a common thing.

Episode Notes

0-5 min — Poor excuse for Irish accents

5-10 min — Introduction to James Joyce

10-15 min — Plot summary

15-20 min — Irish Independence

20-25 min — Meaning of the title

25-30 min — Genius in art

30-40 min — Plot continued

40-45 min — On retreats

45-50 min — Religion at the time

50-55 min — Final thoughts on the book

55-60 min — Ratings and conclusion