Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Chapter 14--Yes, She's a Christ Figure, Too
Apply the criteria on page 119 to a character in the novel. Do not repeat a comment already made on this thread. However, you may respond to and/or extend another student’s comment. In your post, be sure to include specific quotes from the text, with page numbers, to support your conclusions.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
In HTRLAP Foster lists and describes eighteen characteristics of a Christ figure. Those include the character having disciples, being in agony, and being crucified in the hands or feet. In James Joyce’s A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, Stephen the protagonist, could be a Christ figure. When Stephen is at Clongowes attending his Latin lesson. The prefect of studies walks into his class, where a student, Fleming, is kneeling on the floor because he was idle in his studies. The prefect of studies uses his pandybat and hit’s the boys hands twelve times, six on each. After the first punishment the prefect turns to Stephen, who is idle because his glasses were broken. Instead of hearing Stephen out, the prefect of studies accuses Stephen of breaking his glasses in purpose and punishes him with slaps from the pandybat to each of his palms. While the prefect is punishing him, Stephen is in terrible pain and describes his hand as being “maimed” from the blow (Joyce 44). After class the boys, Fleming, Cecil, and Nasty Roche speak with Stephen about how he was wronged. They convince Stephen to inform the rector of what had happened. Stephen explains to the rector what happened and is told he is excused from his lessons for a few days. When he leaves the rector’s office and returns to the three boys his news is greeted with cheers. Stephen fit’s some of the Christ figure characteristics in the passage. His hands are beaten with the pandybat symbolizing his hands being crucified, he is in agony from the blows the prefect of studies delivers him and the three boys are his disciples because they encouraged him and supported him throughout the ordeal.
ReplyDeleteIn HRLP, Foster reveals the key traits of the archetypal Christ figure. While in Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, no character closely follows all the criteria, Cranly, Stephen’s companion from chapter five, fits several of the requirements for the archetype. While Cranly does not bear the wounds of Jesus’ crucifixion, Joyce constantly sneaks in the word “hands” (Joyce 229) when referring to Cranly and at one point even describes the character as having “an iron crown” (233) of hair. Another characteristic of the Christ figure, according to Foster, requires being “good with children” (Foster 119). In chapter five, Cranly, instead of “suffer[ing] little children to come unto me” (Joyce 237), he actually is very rude to the younger kids, resulting to violence with one boy because of a mere fart. While Cranly ironically pushes other kids away, he does greatly assist one child of God, Stephen Dedalus. In Cranly’s “self-sacrificing” (Foster 119) way, he attempts to convince Stephen to steer away from the temptation of selfishness and “make [his] easter duty” (Joyce 240), not for himself but for his mother. While in the long run Stephen remains selfish, Cranly’s devotion to others, ironic annoyance of children, and his description all reveal him to be a sort of Christ figure, especially to the protagonist of the novel.
ReplyDeleteAlthough he was not a major character in the novel PAYM, Stephen's granduncle, Uncle Charles, seemed to be a Christ figure. In Part 1, Uncle Charles points out to "not have our opinions whatever they are without this bad temper and this bad language" at the Christmas dinner (Joyce 29). Here, he is trying to keep the peace in the family, and has his arms raised up like a Christ figure has his arms outstretched. According to the criteria on page 119 of HTRLLAP, a Christ-like figure has to be good with children. Stephen must have been influenced well enough by Uncle Charles to spend most of the day with him. Plus, when Stephen's father requested that Uncle Charles do he smoking "in a little outhouse at the end of the garden," he listened, showing that he respects and cares for for his nephew (Joyce 52). Uncle Charles must have been an influential person in Stephen's life because "during the first part of the summer Uncle Charles was Stephen's constant companion," further proving that he is good with children (Joyce 52). Not only was he good with his family member, but with his legs as well, for "the old man was a nimble walker in spite of his corns..trudging along the road" (Joyce 54). This example displays Uncle Charles humble modes of transportation on foot, which he was very good at for an elderly person. Overall, Uncle Charles is a mild version of a Christ figure who perhaps would have had more influence on Stephen if he did not pass away.
ReplyDelete