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Works of James Joyce: Chapter Two

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From: Monarch Notes
Date: 19630101
Author:Joyce, James

Joyce, James
Monarch Notes
01-01-1963
Chapter Two

Beauty And Decay: Blackrock.

The opening pages of this chapter describe Stephen's failing attempts to
escape from the harsh, "realistic" facts of human life. Stephen is continually
pulled down to earth by the sordidness of his environment. Some critics have
not been impressed by the protagonist's Byronic efforts to rise above the
encumbering clay, however, seeing a cloacal obsession on the part of Joyce
at the root of the naturalistic detail in the section.

The opening of the chapter, with Uncle Charles sitting in the out-house,
contrasts ...

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