Throughout the entire book there is this paradox
of flight - A direct reference to Daedalus
and Icarus. You see him navigate through his own teenage and early adulthood
life through a so called ‘labyrinth’ and then decide to take flight. But I
would argue he never ended his flight by landing. Perhaps it comes in the later
books that Joyce wrote, but perhaps he never makes that landing. It all goes
back to the whole idea of what coming of age really is… He has made this life
changing decision, this huge life decision to pursue art, but does that mark
his peak of maturity. Does the plateau of maturity now consume his character? I
keep coming Back to Stephen in my everyday thoughts. I have found myself
thinking about him, meeting people who’s character I assimilate with his, and
just questioning his existence. I want closure on where he landed, if he
landed.
On another and completely opposite note, Holden
Caulfield. His whole demeanor completely contradicts the character that we just
saw developed in the other book. It was an interesting switch between the two,
reaffirming the stark contrast between every individual and the way that they
enter and exit this Coming of Age paradigm. I am reminded that not one way is
better, not one set of internal thoughts is more worthy of attention from the
reader. Both characters are deserving of a story, and both characters are
deserving of their own voice. However, I do hope to draw some connections
throughout the rest of Catcher in the Rye
in order to grasp a more accurate understanding of this genre novel.
Nice post. I agree with you, but I'm not exactly sure what you mean as landed. Do you mean like coming of age? Anyway I like that you pointed out the differences in narration of Holden. It's really a stark contrast to the voice of Stephen Dedalus.
ReplyDeleteI would argue that as an artist, in order to create, he is always in flight and never lands--for me, I connect the "flight" with Stephen's detachment. This also follows when we consider Joyce's four principal works which are all set in Dublin, and written in voluntary exile. I thought the flight is what is essential to his being and ability to create as an artist, in the way that he wasn't able to write about Dublin when he lived there, but stayed obsessed with it in his work once he left.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that Stephen ever truly landed. From one episodic moment to the next, Stephen is not only aging, but he is constantly changing. To me, this never-ending state of transformation would indicate perpetual flight. Especially at the ending, we see him preparing to go off on his own, literally about to take flight and seek out his vocation.
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