Portrait - Reflection

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is unlike any book I have ever read. James Joyce truly focused on the stream of consciousness within a person and how each thought process is different and beautiful. This novel was challenging because opposed to becoming easier as it continued, it instead, became more complex and intricate, and its form and material became increasingly advanced. There were numerous occasions where I would have to re-read a paragraph to try and grasp what his message was. Because Stephen was maturing as a man, writer and artist, his writing mirrored that transformation, and Joyce utilized his growth by evolving his writing and the concepts he would question and philosophize about.
Originally I really enjoyed the novel because it was different and the structure was interesting because it just jumped from each thought that Stephen had. For instance, the opening paragraphs he skips from telling a childhood story, to singing a song, to wetting the bed, and to the smell of his mother (3); with each new memory, it triggers another impacting moment in his life, and with little to no transition, he starts discussing that occasion. And once he was done, he would pick up from where he previously left off.
As the book continued, I did not lose my appreciation for it, however, it became ever more challenging because the subject matter was becoming more in-depth. No longer were Stephen (as well as Joyce's) points of emphasis on the surface, but rather made to look further into the writing. He desperately wanted the readers to see the true and natural beauty hidden in everything, and he was not willing to lower his standards for the average reader.
Overall, I enjoyed Joyce's novel because of its unique style and its challenging nature. It demonstrated that the societal norms do not have to be accepted, and an individual is capable of testing the waters around him and achieving his inner potential.