The Co-existence Of Naturalism And Modernism Presented In Joyce's Literary Techniques In The Portrait

Joyce's transition in the Portrait can be seen in three points: his treatment of time problem, the representation of consciousness and the innovation of literary techniques. However, the first two points can be seen as the thematic matters; while literary techniques are the method to represent these themes. Thus, to study on what area does Joyce accomplish his transition, this thesis focus on the examination of literary techniques.In Harry Levin's research, he sees the Portrait as a Kunstlerroman, which enables an easy synthesis of the naturalist tradition and symbolist features. This thesis expands this view by studying two more modernist features: the stream of consciousness and impressionism. Through a textural analysis of the forms and narratives, I demonstrate that Joyce keeps many naturalist features in the Portrait but reforms them with his own aesthetics. Apart from developing the epiphany technique, he experiments some stream of consciousness techniques in small scale, which paves the way for a perfect manipulation of the stream of consciousness technique in his later masterpiece, Ulysses. In addition, the symbolist and impressionist features help represent the character's consciousness.This essay consists of six chapters. The first chapter is an introduction, in which the widespread influence of Joyce and the Portrait, my thesis statement, the biographical background of Joyce and the literary influence on him are generally mentioned. Chapter two is devoted to an account of the theory and literary techniques of naturalism and modernism (with a focus on stream of consciousness, symbolism and impressionism) as well as a critique of the Portrait. Chapter three, four, five, and six analyse how each literary technique is dealt with in the text respectively. Finally, I conclude that Joyce inherits from the naturalist tradition the scientific attitude, which he holds in innovating the modernist techniques with an aim to represent the real picture of the inner consciousness.