essay on character makes a man

• EssayBasics.com
• Pay For Essay
• Write My Essay
• Homework Writing Help
• Essay Editing Service
• Thesis Writing Help
• Write My College Essay
• Do My Essay
• Term Paper Writing Service
• Coursework Writing Service
• Write My Research Paper
• Assignment Writing Help
• Essay Writing Help
• Call Now! (USA) Login Order now
• EssayBasics.com Call Now! (USA) Order now
• Writing Guides

Character Makes A Man (Essay Sample)

Character makes a man.

Great people and personalities are made through characters and not by the crew of possessions or elegant nature of clothes. Neither wealth can reclaim outdated characters. The characters of two children from the same mother may contradict each other to the extent that makes them difficult to recognize either. Indeed, character defines people and not ancestry or family. An individual’s character is the behavior of a person. Sometimes, such practices become the nature of men. The character is not genetically inherited from the family or influenced from the surrounding through friends and peers. However, it is our monopoly. Precisely, it can be viewed as our attitude and approach to define and live with people in the society. Moreover, the character is the reflection of mind and soul which hold one accountable and firm in any diverse situation. Ideally, the character makes a man and men are a mirror image of their characters.

The characters of men give honor and respect to the society. However, wickedness and cunning traits earn people disloyalty and rejection in the society. Interestingly, the character is neither achieved within a year or two. It is the accumulation of the struggle and outstanding strives made over the decades. Peer pressure and influence from the current events may compromise an individual’s behavior. Despite these, people with decorum and mature character control and resist flowing away with the current. People with good characters take bold steps to discipline themselves when trapped in unethical behaviors. The struggle to earn and maintain good character is inevitable in life. It is the primary asset in life. It gives individual an identity within the society and beyond.

The bravery and firmness of men are reflected through character. Beautiful personnel may not necessarily possess facial beauty. However, through strong character, magnificence and splendor shine and attracts people. Good deeds established on style last longer in the memory. The strength and physical appearance may fade away with time. However, respect for feeble and women or mercy for the aged and firmness in a daring situation, last forever. These attributes continue to live even when the person is long gone. They are the characters that make a man. New generations will forever live to remember such a gorgeous and charming character.

The famous say that describes people based on their friends is a misconception. Hanging around with individuals short of a character often leads to a character assassination. Primarily, a man is known by the company he keeps. People rush to judge and condemn others base on the ideology and company they keep. Despite the friendship and surrounding ideology, individuals with high character are always beyond reproach. They never doubt and turn up from their decision. Indeed, the character makes a man.

In conclusion, physical appearance and wealth are mortal and temporary. They fade and diminished with time. Rejection and disloyalty from the community emerge when individuals are away from central authority. The character of a person is beyond money and materialistic possession. People can acquire beauty with no gold but by good character. The wholesome appearance of a person is mortal, but a character is a gift. It defines and gives great honor to a person within the society. Despite the overwhelming desire to be firm, responsible and merciful in the society, the quest for the character is inevitable. Character enables people to live by their words in whichever situation. It reduces the misconceptions and doubts about individuals in the society. Finally, character boost trust and loyalty among the people. People are defined by what they do and the ideologies they support. Indeed, the character makes a man.

• Basic English Grammars
• Paragraph Writing
• 5 Lines Essay
• 10 Lines Essay

Essay on Character Makes a Man

Character Makes a Man

Character of a man is the combination and collection of many qualities and traits-nature, personal appearance, way of behaviour and mental reactions to situation and circumstances. as soon as we talk of character, immediately the consideration of moral and immoral comes into play, so does strong or weak. whatever character one possesses would be reflecting the man..

It is on the basis of the character that a man would be judged. Character is the index of a person’s state of mind. There can be situations which some people might badly face while there be some who may begin shaking in their shoes. Judging from this reaction it would be said that the one has a strong character while the other has a weak character. There can be a person who might easily get influenced by the opinion of other people while there would be one who would hold on to his own opinion. The one will be called as a man of weak will while other of a strong will. Will power is a very important factor in determining character. In this way it is on the basis of one’s character that a man would be judged-character reflects the man and man is reflected in the character.

• Share This Post:

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Reset Password

• Skip to main content

India’s Largest Career Transformation Portal

Attitude makes habit, habit makes character and character makes a man

June 12, 2019 by Sandeep

Attitude basically refers to the way a person thinks, feels or demonstrated by his behaviour. It is said that positive attitude makes one perform better than rest of the people. It is not something that is not built in a day or so but it takes years and years to develop one’s attitude.

How attitude is formed? The answer is simple all it takes to develop your attitude is the thought process that is carried out by a person in his/her childhood. And it is also the habits of a person that influences his/her character and this eventually will lead to demonstration of a person’s character.

Why do we need good attitude?

History has witnessed great men like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln who has some unique qualities that were differentiated from the rest of the people. Gandhiji had resilience and motivational approach and Lincoln had a demonstrated persistence, beliefs and courage. What they had in common was the optimism to ensure that even if a gauntlet is thrown to them they will fight against it with their iron will.

Habits as mentioned earlier are formed due to attitude. It is tough to break habits that are set for years and it is difficult to break them. Habits help in forming a person’s character. To establish a person’s character one has start from the child hood and slowly with immense efforts and polishing for one’s character formation. A character forms in the way you respond to the situation that comes your way.

This is exactly why Lincoln and Gandhiji could not have taken on the mighty powers in order to fight for their beliefs. It a human being’s mental attitude that makes a person want to work hard and excel in life. But there are exception not everyone has the ability to work efficiently and this stops them being an achiever and to be excellent. After all habits are defined by one’s attitude. Hardships are what makes person experience success and person who has all the amenities becomes a mediocre over time.

For instance, a girl from low income family gets to study for the entrance exams or even for government exams because she has the interest and passion to study higher and be a better person and contribute to the society. Whereas a person from big family always feel lazy and lag behind their studies because they don’t have work hard for even a day’s food, they have everything and don’t have earn like low income family has to do.

Attitude defines the personality of an individual. For instance a person who seems to happy and cheery outside may not be actually happy but to make both the ends meet he/she has to be positive and face the challenges of life that comes ahead of them but the mindset of a person is formed by repeated habits that one has.

Good habits of a person make him/her have a constructive mindset. And people who have constructive mindset have become great visionaries. But people who don’t inculcate themselves with good habits can have destructive mindset and they can be dangerous to the society.

Right attitude is formed through ethical values and basically positive approach to life. According to a recent survey by a foreign university, good attitude is responsible for 85% of a person’s /her success in his/her. Generally attitude of a person is formed based on their environment, family values and right perspective to resolve their problems.

And it is a person’s attitude that differentiates an optimist from pessimist. An optimist always looks for hope in every trying situations and a pessimist with an incorrect values and attitude view each situations they face with negativity. The main reason is, an optimist has the right attitude has over the time led to development of good habits.

The world has become a tougher place to stay despite better amenities and more access to technology for all of us because of the attitude of bad people. Even the peace of country has been destroyed because of bad attitude of people. It is good to flaunt the knowledge we have but factual knowledge is getting little significance if the person is not humble enough to correct himself/herself.

Even though many people in this world posses extraordinary talent and yet they lag behind those who have right attitude along with the ability to work hard to achieve their goals. So you can clearly see that everything in this world is closely interlinked closely. And it is this fact that is applicable for good attitude which in turn helps in developing good habits over period.

The fact is nothing comes your way easy in life it can only be achieved if a person has right attitude and has the desired character to be successful in life despite many odds that come in the way. As said earlier attitude makes habit, habit makes character, and the golden words have the ability to change the life of an individual can change the whole world too.

Attitude and thinking are both inter-connected with each other. Many researchers have proved this fact but there is still there are millions who are untouched by the soothing effect of these woods. Both attitude and thinking are inseparable from each other because it is part of our thinking. Attitude is the way through which we look towards ourselves.

It depends on the spectacles through which we perceive the whole world through we perceive the world and in turn effect the whole world. Attitude has acquired much weight age these days. A positive attitude is a blessing to the society and negative attitude cultivates negative curse.

For example, when a child gets late to school and the teacher reprimands him/her. If the child takes the scold in a positive way he/she will come early next time but if he/she come in late or don’t even care to come next time that means he has taken the scold in a negative way.

Difference is the attitude of the person. Punctuality should be cultivated habit from within the person. In general attitude has to be cultivated from within us whether it is a good person or bad person. Any work be it small or big can be completed by a person if he/she has the will and a positive stride towards it.

Cultivating good attitude takes place when a person looks at the situation at the bright side instead focusing on the dark side of the situation. Make sure that you see the problem/situation in a positive stride and be happy rather than being negative about it.

Similarly habits are based on repetitive action of a person. For instance if a child or a person has the habit of coming late to class regularly, it becomes a habit for him/her. On the contrary if a person spends quality time reading or writing it becomes a habit for him/her.

So good habits and attitude should be cultivated, molded from the childhood that does not mean parents need to be too strict. But there people who tend to disobey their parents even when they are lenient towards their children.

Family, education etc plays a crucial role in development of a person’s attitude and habits. As Abraham Lincoln once said “character is like a tree and reputation its shadow”. But most of us care about shadows and not for trees. A bad character can destroy can destroy the millions while the good character can create millions.

Attitude is equally as important as ability, it is basically settled way of thinking or feeling typically reflected in a person’s attitude. People who have positive attitude are always alive and bouncy. A person’s attitude reflects its attitude right from very young age especially during childhood. Parents can identify or understand every slight change in their child’s thoughts mainly through actions.

If a person is optimistic and always have positive thinking about life he/she can deal with tough situations in life if they have iron will and people who are pessimistic are more likely to fail in achieving what they want. As said by Siddharth Mukherjee, positive attitude and will power cures big diseases like cancer rather that a negative attitude.

A habit that shapes a person’s attitude, is formed from the soul of a person and this in turn forms countenance, nature, personality, temper, figure or in simple words the character. There is a vast difference between a person’s actual character and their perceived character because our perceived character has nothing to do with our actual character.

Our actual behaviour or character is personal it comes from within us but the character we perceive is based relationships and people who perceive us. Bad things do come in our way but how we respond to them defies a person’s character and quality of life. If we fight the bad with positive attitude and clear mind one can overcome the challenges that come as side effects to bad things.

A person’s mental and moral qualities are distinctive to an individual and that is how our character is defined. A normal human being carries the blend of his/her personal and perceived character. It is much more than we display in front of others. A person’s character is who they are when no one is watching.

As said by Father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviour”.

Best Universities in Luxembourg

Streamlining Student Management: The Power of Automated Systems

All You Need to Know about Scholarship to Study Abroad

International School Fees: Unveiling the True Value

Top 10 SEO company in Bangalore Specialized in SEO Educational Institute .

• Career & Jobs
• Career Guidance
• Study Abroad
• Personality Development

How Character Makes a Man?

“The formation of a person’s character lies in their own hands”- Anne Frank

Every person has a character, be it Hitler or Mother Teresa. Parents want their kids to have character.

Employers seek that in their employees and the latter want it in their boss. It is an important ingredient a person should have at home, school, office, or in public.

In the media-saturated world, the word character might bring to mind an actor’s portrayal of a character in a movie.

It can be a good character or bad and caught our attention visually. But do we ever try to understand and imbibe the good parts into our character?

If we go back in history, a person was valued for his character. Some character virtues were highly-sought after.

Be it rich or poor, famous or not, one’s character made the man. It was valued so for a character hardly ever changes and is a definite picture of the person’s inner self.

Character is defined as “Moral excellence and firmness” in Websters dictionary. It holds all the features and traits that make up an individual’s nature.

A person’s character is what sets them apart from others. It makes an individual unique and gives them intrinsic value.

This does not mean that a person with “good character” is perfect. It is just that the person’s good character is observed and admired.

It means that the person can be trusted and is worthy of admiration. One finds a form of feeling safe when interacting with a person of good character.

When we identify someone as of good character, we admit that the person’s nature is made of good traits like honesty, compassion, integrity, and courage .

People of good character are driven by ethical principles which they shall not compromise even when faced by dangers that can be physical, or detrimental to their careers, economic well-being, or social standing. No matter the cost to them, they’ll do the right thing.

A person is born with a character and it seldom changes. It is something that lasts with the person throughout his lifetime. It also becomes his identity. An honest person is born honest and it won’t change no matter the situation.

A person simply does not go and steal someone’s smartphone just because he cannot afford to buy it. Such an act isn’t in their blood.

All places and people respect a person with good character. Most leaders inherently have a good character. They have worthy traits like honesty , leadership, trust, courage, and patience.

It is their very character that builds their magnetic personality. So without a good character, one cannot build a good personality .

It is not necessary that a good character must have all the traits. However, the person likely has a trait that he strongly reflects.

They become the very embodiment of that trait. So when someone says Mahatma Gandhi you already know we are talking about non-violence.

Meanwhile, Hitler will instantly remind you of too much violence or it could remind you of Charlie Chaplin.

So one must know their character. It is not vital that everyone becomes a leader. A leader is someone who already has leadership qualities .

You are born with it and it cannot be acquired. Sachin Tendulkar was an excellent cricketer but wasn’t exactly a successful captain.

In conclusion, a good character grows into a good personality . They are interdependent.

A person can be fantastically attractive, but without manners, he’ll get no one’s attention. Your morals and character create the real you. Life without ethics and values is worthless.

You Might Also Like

What you need to know about personality development for students, a beautiful blog of wisdom, wisdom meaning, and quotes, ways to achieve win-win resolution, different kinds of weaknesses, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Weekly Newsletter

subscribe to our latest blog and weekly newsletter

Popular News

Expert GMAT Preparation Tips

- Advertisement -

• Certifications

Top Categories

Subscribe us, for quick admission assistance.

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Writing a Character Analysis Essay | Step-by-Step Guide

I’m also going to give you a ton of examples.

This post is split into four parts for easy navigation:

• What is a Character Analysis Essay?
• What is the best Format to Use?
• 11 Character Analysis Example Ideas
• Template, Checklist and Outline for Your own Piece

In this post, I’m going to explain to you clearly and in a step-by-step way how to conduct a character analysis.

1. What is a Character Analysis Essay?

Let’s get you started with some really simple details about what a character analysis is:

• A Quick Definition: A character analysis essay zooms-in on a character in a book, movie or even real life. It provides what we sometimes call a ‘sketch’ of a character.
• The Purpose of a Character Analysis: The purpose of a character analysis is to reveal interesting details about the character that might contain a broader moral message about the human condition. For example, Atticus Finch is not just a lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird. Rather, he provides us with a moral message about the importance of doing what you believe is right even though you know you will likely fail.

2. What is the best Character Analysis Essay Format?

Character analysis essays do not have just one format.

However, let me offer some advice that might act as a character analysis essay outline or ‘checklist’ of possible things you could discuss:

1. Start with the Simple Details.

You can start a character analysis by providing a simple, clear description of who your character is. Look at some basic identity traits such as:

• Race (if relevant)
• Social class (if relevant)
• Protagonist or Antagonist? A protagonist is the character who is our central character in the plot; the antagonist is often the protagonist’s opponent or challenger.
• Major or minor character?

2. What are the character’s distinctive personality features?

Your character might have some really clearly identifiable character traits. It’s best to highlight in your character analysis the exact traits that this character possesses. Some common character traits include:

I recommend you take a moment to write down what you think the top 3 to 5 words are that you’d use to explain your character’s personality traits. These will be important to discuss throughout your character analysis.

Sometimes a character may start out with some personality traits, but change over the course of the text. This is quite common; and one clear example of this is Lady Macbeth she deteriorates from a cutthroat power player to a guilt ridden shell of a person roaming the halls of the castle. This dramatic character change is something that makes her very interesting, and is worthy of discussion!

3. What are the character’s key relationships?

Does your character have a close relationship with a certain person in the storyline?

You might want to discuss the character’s relationships as a part of your character analysis. These relationships may reveal some key personality traits of your character.

For example, in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Horatio is the loyal offsider to Hamlet. Through his actions in staying by Hamlet through thick and thin, we learn that he is a deeply loyal character.

Examining the character’s relationships with their friends and foes therefore is very useful for digging deeper into who this character actually is, and what personality traits they have when they are put to the test within the narrative.

4. What are the character’s motivations?

Another thing you might want to examine are the character’s motivations . What do they desire most in the world? Some common motivations for characters in stories are:

• A simple life
• To serve others

This list really could be endless, but I hope the above examples give you a bit of an idea of the sorts of traits to look out for. By mentioning and examining the motivations of the character, we will come closer and closer to learning exactly what moral message this character might be able to tell us.

5. What are the character’s key conflicts?

Stories tend to have a beginning, a complication, and a resolution.

The complication involves conflicts and challenges that need to be overcome. For Edmund in Narnia, it’s cowardice. For Romeo and Juliet, it’s the conflict between love and family loyalty. Here’s some other common conflicts for characters:

• Whether to stay loyal to a friend;
• To overcome obstacles to love;
• To seek a way out of a challenging situation;
• To escape war or poverty;
• To persevere through imprisonment;
• To overcome personal fear

Again, this list is endless.

Knowing the character’s core conflict gets us even closer to knowing the moral that the character is trying to teach us.

For example, in Romeo and Juliet, the challenge of Romeo and Juliet being together despite their families’ objections teaches us something. Personally, I believe it teaches us the importance of letting go of old grudges in order to let love bloom.

This moral lesson was taught to us through conflict: namely, the conflict that Romeo and Juliet were right in the center of.

6. What are the character’s epiphanies?

Sometimes a character has an epiphany. This often happens towards the end of the story and helps the character overcome the challenge or conflict that we discussed in the point above.

Here’s an example of an epiphany:

• In the Lion King, Simba runs away from his tribe to live in exile. After a chance encounter with his childhood friend Nala, he has an epiphany that he has a duty to his tribe. This leads him back home to fight Scar and return freedom to Pride Rock.

Not all characters have an epiphany. But, if they do, I strongly encourage you to write about it in your character analysis.

7. Examine the moral message the character teaches us.

Finally, conclude by examining the moral message behind the character. Nearly every character has something to teach the reader. Authors put a lot of thought into creating complex characters with whom we can relate. We relate to the character and say “wow, they taught me a lesson about something!”

The lesson might be something like:

• Money doesn’t buy happiness;
• Loyalty to family comes above all else;
• Love gives life meaning;
• Honesty is always the best policy

This is the core of your character analysis essay. If you can pick out exactly what moral message the character teaches you, you’ll be well on your way to writing a strong character analysis.

Below I’m going to give you some examples to help you out. I know it can be hard to really get your head around a character, so sometimes the best thing is to look at some samples!

3. Here’s 13 Example Character Analysis Essay Ideas.

Most times when we create a character analysis, we’re exploring the deeper moral stories / aspects of humanity. Here’s some example ideas. I’ve tried to outline in less than a paragraph exactly what your key point will be about each character:

• Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird: A character who teaches us a lesson about standing up for what’s right, even if you know you’re likely to lose.
• Huckleberry Finn from Huckleberry Finn: A character who reveals our inner desire for freedom from the elements of society that constrain us.
• Dudley from Harry Potter: A character whose personality tells us a cautionary tale of the perils of middle-class narcissism, parents’ desire to wrap their children in cotton wool, and the lack of discipline we perceive in contemporary childhoods.
• Jack from Lord of the Flies: A character who represents the innate desire for power that seems to lurk not too far from the surface of the human condition. When social structures are stripped away, he quickly reverts to violence and superstition to assert control over his peers.
• Lady Macbeth from Macbeth: Lady Macbeth teaches us a valuable lesson about the perils of contravening our own morality. She starts out a cutthroat killer but is increasingly consumed by the guilt of her own actions. While we may be able to escape full punishment from outside forces, it is the inner guilt that might eat us away to our last.
• The Boy who Cried Wolf: The boy who cried wolf is a character whose fatal flaw is his desire for attention and adulation. His repeated attempts at gaining the attention of others leads the townspeople to no longer take him seriously, which causes him harm when he actually needs the villagers to take him seriously to save his life. He teaches us the virtue of honest and humility.
• Nick Carraway from the Great Gatsby: Nick shows us all the inner conflict between the trappings of wealth, glamor and spectacle; and the desire for simplicity, honesty and community. He is drawn by the dazzling world of East Egg, New York, but by the end of the novel sees live in East Egg as shallow and lacking the moral depth of his former life in small town Minnesota.
• Alice from Alice in Wonderland: In many ways, Alice represents the child within all of us. She is a character of goodwill to all and who looks upon the world (or, rather, Wonderland) with awe. Travelling with a cadre of flawed characters, she learns with them the importance of seeking strength from within.
• The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet: Like many Shakespearian characters, the nurse’s role is both as loyal confidante to a central character and comic relief. Shakespeare uses minor characters to regale his crowd and sustain viewer interest between scenes.
• Lucy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Lucy represents a surprising character whose youthfulness and small stature make her an underrated character by all around her. Nonetheless, she possesses within the bravery and loyalty necessary to carry out the quest for Aslan. Lucy represents the goodness in children and, by extension, all of mankind.
• Anne in Anne of Green Gables: Anne occupies the typical literary role of young girls in many classical novels: she represents innocence and wonder, and her contraventions of rules are seen through a prism of childhood innocence. This frames Anne not as a deviant but as a precious soul.
• Simba from The Lion King: Simba’s story follows his struggle with growing up, embracing his destiny and duty to his family, or fleeing towards freedom and a ‘no worries’ lifestyle. Simba flees Pride Rock and goes through an existential crisis with his existentialist friends Timon and Pumba. When he runs into an old childhood friend, he realizes how shallow his new carefree life has become and reflects upon his obligation to his community back home.
• Woody from Toy Story: Woody starts out Andy’s favorite toy, but when Andy gets a new flashier toy, Woody’s status amongst the toys falls apart. Woody’s key character challenge is to learn to be humble and inclusive living within the group. By the end of the movie, Woody realizes his duty to love and serve Andy is more important than his own status within the group.

4. Here’s an Example Template for your own Character Analysis Essay

Feel free to use this brainstorming template to get you started with your character analysis essay. I recommend filling out as many of these key points as you can, but remember sometimes you might have to skip some of these points if they’re not relevant to your character.

Once you’ve brainstormed the ideas in Table 1, follow the character analysis essay outline in Table 2 to stay on track for your character analysis essay. Do remember though that each assignment will be different and you should adjust it based on your teacher’s requirements.

Here’s Table 1, which is a brainstorming template for your character analysis essay:

And here’s Table 2, which is an example character analysis essay outline. This is for a 1500 word character analysis essay. Change the word count according to how long your essay should be:

Read Also: 39 Better Ways to Write ‘In Conclusion’ in an Essay

Character analyses can be really tough. You need to know your character really well. You might even need to re-read (or watch) your book or movie a few times over to get to know the character really well.

I recommend when you re-read or re-watch the text before you write your character analysis, have the checklist I provided above handy and take notes. Then, use the essay outline I provided above to put all of those notes together into a clear and thorough final character analysis essay.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay

A character analysis essay is a challenging type of essay students usually write for literature or English courses. In this article, we will explain the definition of character analysis and how to approach it. We will also touch on how to analyze characters and guide you through writing character analysis essays.

Typically, this kind of writing requires students to describe the character in the story's context. This can be fulfilled by analyzing the relationship between the character in question and other personas. Although, sometimes, giving your personal opinion and analysis of a specific character is also appropriate.

Let's explain the specifics of how to do a character analysis by getting straight to defining what is a character analysis. Our term paper writers will have you covered with a thorough guide!

What Is a Character Analysis Essay?

The character analysis definition explains the in-depth personality traits and analyzes characteristics of a certain hero. Mostly, the characters are from literature, but sometimes other art forms, such as cinematography. In a character analysis essay, your main job is to tell the reader who the character is and what role they play in the story. Therefore, despite your personal opinion and preferences, it is really important to use your critical thinking skills and be objective toward the character you are analyzing. A character analysis essay usually involves the character's relationship with others, their behavior, manner of speaking, how they look, and many other characteristics.

Although it's not a section about your job experience or education on a resume, sometimes it is appropriate to give your personal opinion and analysis of a particular character.

What Is the Purpose of a Character Analysis Essay

More than fulfilling a requirement, this type of essay mainly helps the reader understand the character and their world. One of the essential purposes of a character analysis essay is to look at the anatomy of a character in the story and dissect who they are. We must be able to study how the character was shaped and then learn from their life. 

A good example of a character for a character analysis essay is Daisy Buchanan from 'The Great Gatsby.' The essay starts off by explaining who Daisy is and how she relates to the main character, Jay Gatsby. Depending on your audience, you need to decide how much of the plot should be included. If the entire class writes an essay on Daisy Buchanan, it is logical to assume everyone has read the book. Although, if you know for certain that your audience has little to no knowledge of who she is, it is crucial to include as much background information as possible. 

After that, you must explain the character through certain situations involving her and what she said or did. Make sure to explain to the reader why you included certain episodes and how they have showcased the character. Finally, summarize everything by clearly stating the character's purpose and role in the story. 

We also highly recommend reading how to write a hook for an essay .

Still Need Help with Your Character Analysis Essay?

Different types of characters.

To make it clear how a reader learns about a character in the story, you should note that several characters are based on their behaviors, traits, and roles within a story. We have gathered some of them, along with vivid examples from famous literature and cinema pieces:

Types of Characters

• Major : These are the main characters; they run the story. Regularly, there are only one or two major characters. Major characters are usually of two types: the protagonist – the good guy, and the antagonist: the bad guy or the villain. 
• Protagonist (s) (heroes): The main character around whom most of the plot revolves. 

For example, Othello from Shakespeare's play, Frodo from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Harry Potter from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and Elizabeth Bennet from 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen.

• Antagonist (s): This is the person that is in opposition to the protagonist. This is usually the villain, but it could also be a natural power, set of circumstances, majestic being, etc. 

For example, Darth Vader from the Star Wars series by George Lucas, King Joffrey from Game of Thrones, or the Wicked Queen from 'Snow White and Seven Dwarfs.'

• Minor : These characters help tell the major character's tale by letting them interact and reveal their personalities, situations, and/or stories. They are commonly static (unchanging). The minor characters in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien would be the whole Fellowship of the ring. In their own way, each member of the Fellowship helps Frodo get the ring to Mordor; without them, the protagonist would not be a protagonist and would not be able to succeed. In the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, minor characters are Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. They consistently help Harry Potter on his quests against Voldemort, and, like Frodo, he wouldn't have succeeded without them.

On top of being categorized as a protagonist, antagonist, or minor character, a character can also be dynamic, static, or foil.

• Dynamic (changing): Very often, the main character is dynamic.

An example would also be Harry Potter from the book series by J.K. Rowling. Throughout the series, we see Harry Potter noticing his likeness to Voldemort. Nevertheless, Harry resists these traits because, unlike Voldemort, he is a good person and resists any desire to become a dark wizard.

• Static (unchanging): Someone who does not change throughout the story is static.

A good example of a static character is Atticus Finch from “How to Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. His character and views do not change throughout the book. He is firm and steady in his beliefs despite controversial circumstances. 

• Foils : These characters' job is to draw attention to the main character(s) to enhance the protagonist's role.

‍ A great example of a foil charact e r is Dr. Watson from the Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle.

How to Analyze a Character 

While preparing to analyze your character, make sure to read the story carefully.

• Pay attention to the situations where the character is involved, their dialogues, and their role in the plot.
• Make sure you include information about what your character achieves on a big scale and how they influence other characters.
• Despite the categories above, try thinking outside the box and explore your character from around.
• Avoid general statements and being too basic. Instead, focus on exploring the complexities and details of your character(s).

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay?

To learn how to write a character analysis essay and gather a more profound sense of truly understanding these characters, one must completely immerse themself in the story or literary piece.

• Take note of the setting, climax, and other important academic parts.
• You must be able to feel and see through the characters. Observe how analysis essay writer shaped these characters into life.
• Notice how little or how vast the character identities were described.
• Look at the characters' morals and behaviors and how they have affected situations and other characters throughout the story.
• Finally, observe the characters whom you find interesting. 

Meanwhile, if you need help writing a paper, leave us a message ' write my paper .'

How Do You Start a Character Analysis Essay

When writing a character analysis essay, first, you have to choose a character you'd like to write about. Sometimes a character will be readily assigned to you. It's wise to consider characters who play a dynamic role in the story. This will captivate the reader as there will be much information about these personas.

Read the Story

You might think that if you already have read the book, there is no need to do so again; however, now that you know the character you would like to focus on, reading it again will have plenty of benefits. It will give you an opportunity to be more precise while reading the scenes that relate directly to your character and are important for his/her analysis. While reading the book, pay attention to every tiny detail to make sure you grasp the whole array of your character's traits. 

Consider the following things:

• What specific descriptions does the author provide for each character?

For example, when J.K. Rowling describes Harry Potter for the first time, she describes his clothes as old and oversized, his hair untidy, and his glasses as broken. It might seem just like a simple description, but she expresses compassion and pity for an orphan neglected by his only relatives. 

• What kinds of relationships does your character have with others?

Think about how Harry builds up his friendships with others. First, he and Ron do not like Hermione because she acts like a know-it-all, but when she gets stuck in the dungeons with a horrendous troll, he rushes to save her regardless. 

• How do the actions of the character move the plot forward?

In 'The Philosopher's Stone,' Harry is very observant of any events taking place at school. He analyzes people's actions, which builds up the plot around the stone and its importance for the magical world.

Get help with your character analysis from our experts.

Choose a Dynamic Character

Choosing a dynamic character is a great idea. This does not necessarily have to be the protagonist, but a character that undergoes many changes has grown throughout the story and is not boring and/or static. This gives you a perfect advantage to fully show the character and make your paper entertaining and engaging for the reader. If you choose a character that is not very dynamic, your essay might seem monotonous because your character will not end up doing much and will not be very involved in the story.

While you are reading, it is useful to take notes or highlight/underline any of the critical elements of the story. This will add depth to your character description(s). By providing vivid and specific examples, you connect your reader to the character, and the character comes alive in their eyes. Review your notes and formulate the main idea about your character when you're finished reading with your character in mind.

Make an initial draft while taking note of the character analysis essay outline provided by your instructor. You may follow the recommended character analysis essay format if you have not been provided with a sample.

Choose a Main Idea

While reading the story, make sure you keep track of your notes. It is a good idea to look at them, choose the ones that are the most representative of your character and find patterns. This will be your thesis. Then, you must support this idea with examples and situations involving your character. 

If your character were Jem Finch from 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, the main idea would be how his personal character is shaped through racial conflicts, social inequalities, and internal struggles between public opinion, his own views, and what is actually right. Essaypro offers you history essay help. Leave us a notice if you need to proofread, edit, or write your essay.

Character Analysis Questions

Now that you have jotted down some main concepts about your character, here is a list of questions that can help you fill in the blanks you might still have:

• Where do the events involving your character take place?
• What are the relationships between your character and other significant characters?
• What is the primary change your character has gone through throughout the story?
• What is your character's background?
• What is your character's occupation?
• What kind of emotions does your character go through?
• What are your character's values?
• What is your character's value?
• Does your character have friends?
• Is there a lesson your character has learned by the end of the story?
• Does the character achieve the goals he/she has set for himself/herself?

Make a Character Analysis Essay Outline

When you're unsure how to write a character synopsis, remember that creating a literary analysis outline is one of the most critical steps. A well-constructed character analysis outline will keep your thoughts and ideas organized.

Character Analysis Essay Introduction:

Make the introduction to your paper brief and meaningful. It should hold together your entire essay and spark your audience's interest. Write a short description of the character in question. Don't forget to include a character analysis thesis statement which should make a case for the character's relevance within the narrative context.

Character Analysis Essay Body:

Subdivide your body paragraphs into different ideas or areas regarding the character. Look at your professor's rubric and ensure you'll be able to tackle all the requirements. You should also be provided with questions to be answered to formulate your analysis better. The body should answer the following questions:

• What is the character's physical appearance, personality, and background?
• What are the conflicts the character experiences, and how did he/she overcome them?
• What can we learn from this character?
• What is the meaning behind the character's actions? What motivates him/her?
• What does the character do? How does he/she treat others? Is he/she fair or unjust?
• What does the character say? What is his/her choice of words? Does he/she have a rich vocabulary?
• How does the character describe themself? How do others describe him/her?
• What words do you associate with the character? Perhaps a word like 'hope,' 'bravery,' or maybe even 'freedom'?

Character Analysis Essay Conclusion:

It's time to master the secrets of how to write character analysis essay conclusions. Your ending should also hold your ideas together and shape a final analysis statement. Mention things about the character's conflicts that we could experience in real life. Additionally, you can write about how a character should've reacted to a certain situation.

Character Analysis Essay Example

Read our blogs ‘Character Analysis of Jem Finch', 'The Great Gatsby Book Through Daisy Buchanan Character,' 'Analysis of Characters in Beowulf,' or simply use these character analysis essay examples to reference your paper. You might also be interested in a synthesis essay example .

Now that you know what is character analysis, it might be time to choose a character to write about. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to type ' do my homework for me ,' you should contact our writers. You also get a free plagiarism report, formatting, and citing when  buying an essay from us!

STRUGGLE with Writing an Essay?

Address to our professional writers and get help asap!

Related Articles

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline

A character analysis is an examination of the personalities and actions of protagonists and antagonists that make up a story. It discusses their role in the story, evaluates their traits, and looks at their conflicts and experiences. You might need to write this assignment in school or college. Like any other essay, your character analysis should contain an introduction, a conclusion, and a thesis.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

Want to know how to write a character analysis essay? Not sure how to start? We understand. Whichever piece you choose – Lady Macbeth, A Rose for Emily, or something else, – analyzing a character for the first time might be challenging. No worries, we are here to help! In this guide by our custom writing experts, you will find a step-by-step guide, outlining and writing tips, as well as a number of character analysis examples.

• 📔 Character Analysis Definition
• 🧙 Types of Characters
• 📝 Writing Guide
• 🖥️ Formatting Tips

📑 Character Analysis Essay Examples

📔 what is a character analysis essay.

A character analysis essay is an assignment where you evaluate a character’s traits, behaviors, and motivations. It requires critical thinking and attention to detail. Unlike descriptions, analyses focus on a character’s personality and internal drives. It explains how those factors shape the narrated events.

So, what you need to do is to see the characters as if they were real people who feel and act just as we do. Ensure there are no baseless assumptions and interpretations: the ideas you present should be supported by quotes from the text.

Character: Definition (Literature)

How do you define a character? It is a person, a creature, or an animal that makes up the story’s world. A character can be based on a real-life person, or it can be entirely fictional. It is someone who thinks, feels, and acts.

We use the word “character” in many different contexts. For instance, it can denote someone eccentric or worthy of our admiration. In both contexts, the term “character” means a distinctive personality. Similarly, in an analysis, your task is to show what makes a character stand out.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

Characterization: Literary Definition & Examples

Characterization is the process by which a character’s personality is revealed. It presents characters’ traits, feelings, and motives to the reader. For this reason, characterization is closely connected to character analysis. It helps us to understand the characters better throughout the reading process.

Characterization can be direct and indirect .

• Direct characterization is when the narrator directly tells the audience what the personality of a character is.
• In contrast, indirect characterization shows things that hint at a character’s nature.

Here are some examples of direct characterization taken from Patti Smith’s Just Kids :

“But he always suppressed his real feelings, mimicking the stoic nature of his father.”

Here we see a direct description of a character. The author straightforwardly talks about Robert’s feelings. In comparison, look at the description of a woman taken from John Steinbeck’s The Snake :

“He looked around at her again. Her dark eyes seemed veiled with dust. She looked without expression at the cat’s open throat.”

These lines don’t directly reveal anything about the woman, but the reader can understand that she is cold and dangerous. It’s an indirect characterization that focuses on looks and actions to convey the message to the reader.

Receive a plagiarism-free paper tailored to your instructions. Cut 20% off your first order!

🧙 Types of Characters for Your Essay

When it comes to characters, they can be divided into several groups. For example, characters can be:

• Protagonists or antagonists,
• Static or dynamic,
• Flat or round.

These types define how much the characters change through the course of the story and their role in it.

Character Type: Definition

In psychology, a character type is defined by a combination of personality traits that coexist in an individual. Authors incorporate different types of characters into their works to convey the message and make the story more exciting or relatable to the reader.

There are three ways to categorize a character type:

• by archetypes,
• by their role in the narrative,
• by their ability to change throughout the story.

If you are about to write a character analysis essay, being familiar with character archetypes is essential. They have been categorized by a generation of writers, including the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung and the American literary theorist Joseph Campbell. A lot of characters we see in today’s literary works are rooted in them.

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

Archetypes include the Trickster, the Ruler, the Lover, the Sage, and others. The Hero is one of the most notable archetypes. Hercules or Achilles can be good examples of heroic protagonists. They are strong and courageous; they meet challenges and save the day by helping others.

Main Character: Definition & Examples

The main character and the protagonist often get mixed up. Most narratives also have the figure of the antagonist , whose actions affect the plot and stimulate change. Let’s have a look at the similarities and differences between these types.

The main character is central in the narrative. We experience the story through their eyes. They don’t necessarily have to be protagonists, though it happens in many cases.

The crucial difference between the main character and the protagonist is that the protagonist goes through changes throughout the story. The main character, however, is there to guide the reader through the experience. Often they help to show a different, darker side of the protagonist.

To understand the difference better, let’s turn to some examples.

What’s a Static Character?

Now that we’ve learned about the main character and the protagonist, we will closely look at other types of character classifications. One of the ways to categorize a character is by their ability to change throughout the story.

A static or simple character is someone who undergoes little or no significant changes. They often exist for comedic purposes. Here are some examples:

Complex Character: Definition & Examples

Complex or dynamic characters are the opposite of static characters. Characters of this type change as the book progresses. They display different qualities, emotions, and motives. They become more complicated and interesting to the reader as the story unfolds.

Check out these examples of dynamic characters:

Other Kinds of Characters

You already know about several ways to define a type of character. Now, let’s go over some other types, starting with flat and round characters.

Similar to dynamic and static ones, round and flat characters represent two different ends of a spectrum. Round characters usually come with an in-depth background. They are traditionally protagonists, antagonists, or those close to them. In contrast, flat characters are two-dimensional, and there is not much depth to them.

For the examples, we will turn to the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Finally, here are some bonus character types for you:

• Stock characters have a fixed set of traits and are flat. Most of the time, they exist for comical relief.
• Symbolic characters represent a concept or a theme that goes beyond them. They can be round and flat as long as they symbolize a particular notion or phenomena.
• Sidekick is a secondary character who supports the protagonist.
• The love interest is someone with whom the main character is infatuated.
• Foil is someone who’s set in contrast with the protagonist, thus putting more emphasis on the latter’s qualities.

Characterization Essay: Which Character Type to Choose

Before you start writing a paper, it essential to decide on the character you’re going to analyze. There are different types of characters in every story, so you need to choose which one suits your essay topic the best.

Usually, it’s best to choose a dynamic and round character . With static and flat ones, there may not be enough substance for you to analyze. However, some such personalities can be interesting to work with. For instance, a flat character such as Mr. Collins can be symbolic of something. Then, you can talk about how it embodies a specific idea or notion. You can also look at how they affect other characters in the story.

📝 How to Write a Character Analysis Step by Step

Now, we’re going to discuss how to write your paper step-by-step. But first, here are some pre-writing steps for you to consider:

• Choose a character for analysis.
• Take notes while reading;
• Define the type of the character and their role in the story;
• Pay attention to their descriptions and actions.

How to Analyze a Character: Description Examples

Knowing how to organize your work is an essential skill. Certain things need special attention if you are describing a character:

• physical appearance,
• emotional state,
• how the character speaks,
• behavior and personality traits,
• relationships with other characters.

When you analyze a character, try to look at them as if they were a real-life person. You want to know their motive, learn about how they feel, and understand why they think in a certain way. Ask yourself:

• How did the character change throughout the story (if at all)?
• What do other characters say about them? Can their words be trusted?
• Where is the character physically and emotionally? What brought them here?
• What is the character ready to do to achieve their goal?

Now, let’s look at the character of Franklin from the short story Just Before the War with the Eskimos by J.D. Salinger:

Character Profile Template for Writing

When writing your essay, use this character analysis template:

In the following sections, we’ll discuss each step in detail.

Character Analysis Outline: How to Start a Character Analysis

The beginning of your essay is its crucial part. It sets the mood and grabs the reader’s attention. There are many different ways to write a character analysis introduction, but here are the most effective ones:

• Use a quotation. It’s a great way to make a catchy hook. If it relates to the character and reflects their nature, it can also help to set the tone for analysis. In case you are using a quotation from somewhere else, mention the source in parentheses.
• Talk about the book or story. Mention the author, the name of the story, and the genre. Briefly describe the main events that are taking place in the story.
• Introduce the character. State their role in the story (define whether they are a protagonist, an antagonist, etc.) Then, explain whether the character is static or dynamic. Finally, describe them in 2-3 sentences.

The final part of an introduction is a thesis statement.Read on to learn how to write one!

Character Analysis Thesis Statement & Examples

A thesis is the key component of every essay, and character analysis is not an exception. It’s crucial to develop a good and clear thesis statement that includes all the aspects of your paper. For instance, if you plan to write a 4-paragraph body, including 4 points in your thesis.

What should a character analysis thesis include? Well, try to think of any trait that the character possesses that has to do with their downfall or somehow influences the story. Think about how this trait affects the character’s relationship with others or how it contributes to their motive or aspiration.

Take a look at the following examples:

How to Write Character Analysis Paragraphs for the Main Body

The main body of your essay can include as many paragraphs as you need. In this part, you introduce the character and analyze them. We have already talked in this article about what kind of questions should be answered in these paragraphs. The most important points are:

• Describe the character and their role within the story.
• Give the audience an explanation of the character’s motives.
• Show what message the author wanted to convey through this character.

Keep in mind that every paragraph should have a topic sentence that captures its main idea.

Tsukuru Tazaki’s spiritual rebirth also affects his physical appearance.

Character Analysis Conclusion: How to Write

The conclusion part of your essay summarizes all the information you have mentioned and restates the thesis. Here is some advice for your conclusion paragraph:

🖥️ Character Analysis Essay Format

Most college assignments and essays are written according to the APA or MLA format. Both styles have the same formatting, which requires:

• a double-spaced paper with 1-inch margins,
• a page header with page numbers flush right,
• an 11-12-point font.

While writing an essay on characters, pay special attention to quotations. Here are some tips for APA in-text citations:

• When you summarize or paraphrase the information, mention the author’s name and publication date in brackets. Example: According to Collins (1997.)
• When you quote directly from the source, add the number of the page, as well. Example: “There is a view that…” (Collins, 1997, pp. 134-135.)
• If the source includes three or more authors, use the abbreviation “et al.” after the first author’s name. Example: (Collins et al., 1997)

As for MLA format:

• You can write the author’s name in the sentence. Example: As Collins mentions in his essay<…>.
• You can mention the author’s name in the parentheses at the end of the sentence. Example: (Collins, J.K.)
• The last option is to use either footnotes or endnotes.

Below you’ll find a collection of character analysis essay examples and a downloadable sample to inspire you even more.

• The Grandmother in A Good Man Is Hard to Find: Character Analysis
• Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman: Character Analysis
• Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway: Character Analysis
• Prospero in The Tempest: Character Analysis
• Agamemnon in the Iliad: Character Analysis
• Lord Pococurante in Candide: Character Analysis
• Andromache in the Iliad: Character Analysis
• Character Analysis of the Knight from The Canterbury Tales
• Essay on Soldier’s Home: Analysis of the Characters

Character Analysis Example (Downloadable)

Roald Dahl’s  Matilda  is one of the most famous children’s novels of the 20th century. The protagonist of this tale is Matilda Wormwood, a five and a half-year-old girl with a brilliant and lively mind that distances her from the rest of the family. Matilda’s character is particularly interesting as she has a powerful personality with extraordinary mental abilities, and she manages to overcome all the obstacles that surround her.

Character Analysis Essay Topics

• Character analysis of Abbas from A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge .
• Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• Beowulf and Hamlet : similarity and diversity of the characters.
• Personal and social failures of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller.
• Character analysis of Othello .
• Analyze the characters of Stanley and Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire .
• The tragedy of Mathilde Loisel from The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant.
• Character analysis of Huck Finn from Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn .
• Moral force of Kate Lipton from Double Helix by Nancy Parker.
• Character analysis of Thorvald and Nora in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House .
• Discuss the character of king Creon in Antigone .
• Analyze the personality of Lydia from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice .
• Compare Nick Carraway and Tom Buchanan from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
• Describe the peculiarities of Lord Pococurante in Candide .
• Sarty Snopes in William Faulkner’s Barn Burning : character analysis.
• Analyze the character of Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman.
• Personality of Nora in A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen.
• Examine the main characters of The Yellow Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
• Personality change of the main character in Edgar Alan Poe’s The Black Cat .
• Analyze the characters of E. Hemingway’s A Clean, Well-Lighted Place .
• Describe the main characters of the novel The Overstory by Richard Powers.
• Controversial personality of Vladek in Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman.
• Character analysis of Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley .
• Discuss the character of Creon in Oedipus the King .
• The manipulative character of Iago in Willian Shakespeare’s Othello .
• Analyze the characters of Nil and Kristine in A Doll’s House .
• Eccentricity of Grendel’s character in Beowulf .
• Describe the main characters of Four Summers by Joyce Carol Oates.
• Examine the characters of Harold Krebs and his mother in Ernest Hemingway’s Soldier’s Home .
• Analyze common and different traits of the characters in The Monkey’s Paw .
• Character peculiarities of Rostam and Sohrab in Shahnameh by Ferdowsi Tousi.
• How does the character of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen differ from the rest of her family?
• The behavior and meaning of the characters in Nicholas Rowe’s The Tragedy of Jane Shore.
• Compare the characters of Victor Frankenstein and the monster in Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley.
• Discuss the differences of main characters in Everyday Use by Alice Walker.
• Examine the character of Connie in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oates.
• The influence of social pressure on the characters of Chopin’s Desirée’s Baby and Sedaris’ A Modest Proposal .
• Dynamic feminist characters of Delia and Jig in Sweat by Z. Hurston and Hills Like White Elephants by E. Hemingway.
• Analyze the personality traits of Emily in William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily .
• Examine the characters of The Quiet American by Graham Greene.
• Henry ΙV by William Shakespeare : analysis of main characters.

Now you know everything necessary for writing an excellent character analysis. What character would you like to analyze? Let us know in the comments!

Further reading:

• How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay Step by Step
• Literature Review Outline: Examples, Approaches, & Templates
• Library Research Paper: Example & Writing Guide [2024]
• How to Write a Critique Paper: Tips + Critique Essay Examples
• 435 Literary Analysis Essay Topics and Prompts [2024 Upd]
• How to Write a Literature Review: Actionable Tips & Links

❓ Character Analysis FAQ

A character analysis involves:

1. description of a character; 2. explanation of how they change throughout the story; 3. their role in the narrative; 4. relationships with other characters; 5. what idea the author wanted to convey through the character.

A character analysis creates a description that contains their most important qualities. It provides a new perspective of a character that reveals more about what it’s like to be human. It can also point to a moral or a lesson.

Literary analysis uses the technique of tracing the character development. This technique is usually used to understand the theme of the work better. Through tracing a character’s development, we can learn more about the story’s message and how it’s conveyed.

A summary paragraph in a character study should include answers to the questions “what,” “who,” “where,” and “why.” You should mention who narrates the story, where the story is set, its theme, and the message it conveys.

• Critical Concepts: Character and Characterization: Kansas State University
• Analyzing Novels & Short Stories: Texas A&M University
• Guidelines for Writing a Character Analysis Essay: Tidewater Communite College
• Literary Criticism: Thesis Examples: The University of Texas at Arlington
• Writing a Literary Analysis Paper: Germanna Community College
• Flat and Round Characters: Encyclopedia Britannica
• Literature: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• How to Write a Book Analysis: Kean University
• Elements of Literary Analysis: Alamo Colleges District
• Defining Characterization: Read Write Think
• APA Style: General Format: Purdue University
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

Any critique is nothing more than critical analysis, and the word “analysis” does not have a negative meaning. Critical writing relies on objective evaluations of or a response to an author’s creation. As such, they can be either positive or negative, as the work deserves. To write a critique, you...

If you are assigned to write a rhetorical analysis essay, you have one significant advantage. You can choose a text from an almost infinite number of resources. The most important thing is that you analyze the statement addressed to an audience. The task of a rhetorical analysis essay is to...

Any literary analysis is a challenging task since literature includes many elements that can be interpreted differently. However, a stylistic analysis of all the figurative language the poets use may seem even harder. You may never realize what the author actually meant and how to comment on it! While analyzing...

As a student, you may be asked to write a book review. Unlike an argumentative essay, a book review is an opportunity to convey the central theme of a story while offering a new perspective on the author’s ideas. Knowing how to create a well-organized and coherent review, however, is...

The difference between an argumentative and persuasive essay isn’t always clear. If you’re struggling with either style for your next assignment, don’t worry. The following will clarify everything you need to know so you can write with confidence. First, we define the primary objectives of argumentative vs. persuasive writing. We...

You don’t need to be a nerd to understand the general idea behind cause and effect essays. Let’s see! If you skip a meal, you get hungry. And if you write an essay about it, your goal is achieved! However, following multiple rules of academic writing can be a tough...

An argumentative essay is a genre of academic writing that investigates different sides of a particular issue. Its central purpose is to inform the readers rather than expressively persuade them. Thus, it is crucial to differentiate between argumentative and persuasive essays. While composing an argumentative essay, the students have to...

It’s not a secret that the reader notices an essay title first. No catchy hook or colorful examples attract more attention from a quick glance. Composing a creative title for your essay is essential if you strive to succeed, as it: Thus, how you name your paper is of the...

The conclusion is the last paragraph in your paper that draws the ideas and reasoning together. However, its purpose does not end there. A definite essay conclusion accomplishes several goals: Therefore, a conclusion usually consists of: Our experts prepared this guide, where you will find great tips on how to...

A five-paragraph essay is one of the most common academic assignments a student may face. It has a well-defined structure: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Writing an introduction can be the most challenging part of the entire piece. It aims to introduce the main ideas and present...

Exemplification essays, also called illustration essays, are one of the easiest papers to write. However, even the simplest tasks require experience and practice. It is a good idea to find and analyze free exemplification essay examples. You can also ask your teacher to give you some sample exemplification essays from...

During their school years, students may not always have the opportunity to select a topic for their essay or research paper. Instructors tend to assign one or offer a list of ideas that might not seem engaging. Moreover, even the topic that you choose yourself can sometimes end up being...

• Bipolar Disorder
• Therapy Center
• When To See a Therapist
• Types of Therapy
• Best Online Therapy
• Best Couples Therapy
• Best Family Therapy
• Managing Stress
• Sleep and Dreaming
• Understanding Emotions
• Self-Improvement
• Healthy Relationships
• Student Resources
• Personality Types
• Guided Meditations
• Verywell Mind Insights
• 2023 Verywell Mind 25
• Mental Health in the Classroom
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board
• Crisis Support

Character and Personality Are Actually Two Different Things—Here's Why

LaKeisha Fleming is a prolific writer with over 20 years of experience writing for a variety of formats, from film and television scripts to magazines articles and digital content. She is passionate about parenting and family, as well as destigmatizing mental health issues. Her book, There Is No Heartbeat: From Miscarriage to Depression to Hope , is authentic, transparent, and provides hope to many.

Dr. Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and a professor at Yeshiva University’s clinical psychology doctoral program.

Ridofranz / Getty Images

• So, What's the Difference Between Character and Personality?

Unpacking What Character and Personality Truly Mean

How character and personality impact us on a psychological level, which is more important, character or personality, how can we identify our character and personality.

We often use the words character and personality interchangeably. For example, when we're talking about the way a person behaves or how we perceive them, we may throw around adjectives like honest, integral, funny, or outgoing in an attempt to describe someone’s character, personality , or both.

Character can shape personality, but personality also influences character.

Although both character and personality involve the expression of someone's inner qualities, research shows that they are two very different things.

So, What's the Difference Between Character and Personality?

Verywell Mind spoke to LeMeita Smith , PhD, MLPC, a therapist who helped break down the differences between character and personality:

• Character : Refers to our individual beliefs and values—both of which shape our personalities. Our life experiences also shape our characters and reveal our intrinsic qualities and morals.
• Personality : Refers to our temperaments and behaviors. Our personality shapes our character and interpersonal interactions often help us suss out someone's personality traits.

We typically consider character and personality to be the same things, but they're totally different. While character and personality influence one another, character refers to our values and personality describes how we behave.

Making ourselves aware of these differences can help us understand why we are the way we are.

As you can see by the definitions above, character can shape personality, but personality also influences character.

Character is an intrinsic part of a person’s makeup; personality involves the way our character is expressed.

“Character refers to the person’s moral and ethical qualities. It consists of beliefs and moral principles that can guide their behavior in discrete ways. Personality is the sum of a person’s physical, psychological, emotional , and social aspects that are manifested through behavior and actions,” says Tara M. Lally, PhD , the supervising psychologist at the Department of Psychiatry at Ocean University Medical Center.

Real-Life Situations Can Help Explain the Differences Between Character and Personality

The following real-life scenarios can help us get a better understanding of how character and personality differ:

• To Steal or Not to Steal: Let's say we wake up and go to work one day only to walk in and find that the cash register has been left open. No one else is around. If we decide to tell the manager that the drawer was left open, our personality dictates that decision. But, if we peek around and decide to swipe some cash from the register, that says something about our character. If you choose not to steal money from the drawer, this decision also speaks to your character.
• How We Respond If We Don't Get Our Way: Another example looks at we might react to being told we can’t do something that we want to do. Character dictates whether we're unbothered by this or if we feel like everyone is out to get us. Either feeling points to our core belief system. The way we outwardly express those internal feelings highlights our personality. So, if we get angry, act petty, or take the high road we reveal our personality. In other words, personality is the outward expression of character.

What Makes Character and Personality Similar?

“Both reflect who an individual is as a person and are influenced by environmental factors. These constructs make up the identity of a person and play a vital role in thinking patterns, behaviors, and actions. Both personality and character are integral in understanding who you are in relation to yourself and others,” says Dr. Smith.

Both character and personality are expressed physically, mentally, and emotionally. So, it stands to reason that they both have a significant impact in the areas of psychology, personal development , and even social interactions.

Tara M. Lally, PhD, Psychologist

Character refers to the person’s moral and ethical qualities. It consists of beliefs and moral principles that can guide their behavior in discrete ways. Personality is the sum of a person’s physical, psychological, emotional, and social aspects that are manifested through behavior and actions.

Research shows that psychologically, character is the part of ourselves that houses morals and ethics. It’s significant in this space because it is a driver and predictor of decisions you’ll make, which defines your personal development and how you relate to others.

Personality has a similar impact.

“Within psychological arenas, the ID represents [our] personality and directly represents the needs of an individual. In psychology, the study of personality provides insight into how specific traits and mannerisms develop and change over time. Personality is significant to personal development and social interactions as certain traits can cause distress and present challenges,” tells Dr. Smith.

Character and personality go hand in hand. Each impacts the other, and both impact your thoughts, behaviors , and actions.

Some experts say character is more important because it is what drives an individual’s decisions. Those decisions are predictors of actions. Other experts argue that personality is more critical because it is the demonstration of a person’s beliefs. So, basically, it's hard to say which one is more important.

Tara M. Lally, PhD

Character is born from caregiver development and what we see as valued both intrinsically and others. Personality emerges in response to situations and our interacting with others.

Ultimately, both matter, and are critical links to understanding a person mentally, physically, and emotionally.

“Both are equally important. Character is born from caregiver development and what we see as valued both intrinsically and [by] others. Personality emerges in response to situations and our [interactions] with others,” says Dr. Lally. “Both are necessary because they allow for an individual to be dynamic in different situations revealing themselves (personality) to others when they are ready but always knowing oneself (character),” she says.

Now that we know how character and personality differ from one another, how do we identify our own traits?

Let's go back to those two example scenarios from earlier. Think about how you'd respond if you walked into work and saw a cash register open. What might your internal reaction be? If you think you'd feel the urgency to do something about it this may indicate that you have an honest and ethical character.

Then, if you decide to tell your manager that the drawer is open, this shows that your personality is trustworthy and honorable because you're expressing your honest character by outwardly doing the right thing.

What This Means For You

All of us can benefit from understanding ourselves a bit better because it can help identify our strengths and weaknesses. We can then use that information to grow and evolve as we move through life .

If you're trying to get a better understanding of your personality traits and your character, think about how hypothetical situations would make you feel (this would reveal your character) and how your would express your feelings (this would reveal your personality).

To help put a label on your feelings and reactions, it can help to look up adjectives that describe personality and character. Or, you can always ask those closest to you about how they would describe you to someone else. Any of these exercises can provide you with valuable insight into who you truly are.

Dametto DM, Noronha APP. Study between personality traits and character strengths in adolescents. Curr Psychol. 2021;40(5):2067-2072.

Character development and self-esteem: Psychological foundations and educational implications. International Journal of Educational Research. 1998;27(7):539-551.

The Endless

August 29, 2022

Essay On Character || For All Class Students

Character Essay

Essay On Character The character is the best asset of human life. The real identity of a man lies in his character, and not in his wealth, power, or appearance. But it is such a thing which does not come down at man’s feet from heavens; he has to achieve it.

To give a simplified definition of character, it can be said that character is the disciplined and beautiful form of man’s mentality and behavior which makes him not only modest confident friendly, and happy, but also acceptable and pleasing to other people with whom he interacts. It is bright with the heavenly light of truth and humanity, soft with the beauty of forgiveness, strong with the strength of imperturbability and patience.

As has been said earlier, the mentality and system of behavior that develops within a man as a unique combination of various human qualities are called character. Of these qualities the most notable are kindness, love, forgiveness, patience, sympathy, helping attitude, benevolence, self-education and well-educatedness, amiability, broad-mindedness, imperturbability, and flexibility.

Generally, all these qualities are not found in a man’s character at a specific point in time. That is why he has to continue to build up his character lifelong. And this way even a man-on-the-street can turn to be a great man in the future. But even then the task of building up a character does not come to an end.

Don’t Forget to Check: Essay in English

Since the character is something which has to be learned and earned all through the life, a child can not inherit it, nor can It achieve it by birth. The environment in which a child lives directly or indirectly influences its mental tendencies, belief, conduct, behavior and so on.

Consequently, all the external influential features of the environment determine the form of its character in the future. This warns us by the fact that we should try to create a favorable atmosphere in which a child will grow up and almost automatically and spontaneously build up its character little by little.

It is, however, true that a child inherits some features of its character from its forefathers to some extent. But both the qualitative and the quantitative intensity of such unearned qualities are of small importance. The thing which plays the first role in building up its character is the external, identifiable elements of the environment.

This is because a child does not learn to think at first, rather, what it learns is to mimic what it sees and feels. And there being little creative tendency of such mimicry, the child accepts and follows those behavioral features of others as an ideal and gradually tries to retain them. Thus it assimilates the examples it sees and eventually considers them as a part of its own personality and individuality.

As a result, those behavioral aspects get reinforced in it and at a stage of its mental development, the child becomes totally indifferent to the behavioral pattern it has acquired from the environment; and when it grows up, it rationalizes those patterns even if they were bad and harmful.

As a matter of fact, in this stage, it is really a tough task to correct those behaviors. What all this implies is that the behavioral pattern of any person should be purposefully guided and controlled from the very childhood.

The most effective way of building up a child’s character is not teaching by words but by examples. And the incongruity between oral teaching and teaching by examples will catch the child in a bewilderment, and it is most likely that the child will eventually follow the examples, rejecting the oral advice.

There should be a suitable atmosphere–both in the family and the society–so that a person can easily and successfully continue to build up his character all through his life. It is to be ensured that teen-agers mix with good boys and girls and involve themselves in no harmful or bad activities.

The importance of character needs no mentioning. It is the only thing by which the greatness or meanness of a man is and should be evaluated. Wealth, appearance, power, status and of these does not certify a man as great or small. Even education and knowledge are not as important as character is. Virtually, a man should become a human; he is not so by birth.

Animals and birds are animals and birds by birth; trees are by birth what they are, but humans have to strive much to become real humans. Here lies the main distinction between man and any other creation of the universe. The character is so important that it should be prioritized over all other mundane gains in life. Because:

When money is lost. nothing is lost; When health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, everything is lost.

In order to be happy, successful, confident, and winning in the personal life, the character is a must. In order to be influential and venerated in social life, the character is a must. To ensure peace and peaceful coexistence in international life, the character is a must. character wins all.

Character glows and glistens in the darkness of the tough and abstruse desert of the life, as a diamond brightly glows in the darkness of night. We should try to see that light, to feel it, and to produce it more and more. It is to be borne in mind that a man who has no character is inferior to any beast.

Short Essay on Character

  Introduction: Nothing else pays so much in life as the character does. Character, so to speak, is a bundle of some good habits. It is a noble virtue and glorious crown of a man.

What is a character: Character is the combination of honesty, nobility, truthfulness, sympathy, and charity. It is the focus of all other virtues.

How to form character: To build up character needs determination, practice, observation, imitation, clarity of thoughts and visions etc. A person should be determined to practice the activities of great men and women with his clarity of thought and vision.

All the religious scriptures have indicated the formation of character. They have cited some points according to which one can form one’s character. Hearing from the eminent ola may kerams and wise men of the country, one can form one’s character.

A man of character: Real character is found in a man of character. A man’ of character is the real prince among men. In society, he is respected by all and sundry. He is a moral force of society. A man of character does not tell lies even out of fun, exploit anyone in society, misappropriate the money and wealth of others, and even speaks ill of others. He is always true to his words and deeds.

A man of character is found once in a blue moon. The nation feels proud of a man of character. He may be poor but he is a great asset to the nation.

A man of character can inculcate his thoughts and ideas into the mind of the common people so that they may form their character. A man of character is God-fearing, honest, sincere, truthful, dutiful, gentle without duplicity, flattery, pride etc.

A man without character: A man without character is not respected by anybody in society. People do not care about him for a straw. He is not a boon but an imprecation to society. He always tells lies, cheats people, misappropriates public money, and falls out with anyone on a trifling matter. He does not respect people, pay the devil his dues, work for the well-being of society.

He does not keep up his promise. He does whatever he likes. The nation doe not feel proud of him. He has no social status. He is also punished for his lewdness and rude behavior.

Importance of character: Character is of great importance in man’s life. “Wealth lost, nothing is lost, health lost, something I lost and character lost, everything is lost.” — goes a wise maxim to signify character. It can win people’s hearts, satisfy people, and fortify the base of becoming great in life. It is sunshine that shoots its brightness on people around. Character leads a man and his nation to the top level of development and prosperity.

It is supreme quality and virtue that makes one popular, faithful, trustworthy, and one’s life crowned with success. Character fetches success, happiness, prosperity, social status to the man of character. A poor man with a stainless character can be respected, no doubt. The character is a good quality that makes a man really great in society. It never misguides anyone. Man can win people’s minds by dint of character.

Examples: There are many great men who present ideal examples of strong and stainless character. Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (sm) was the best example of character. All men either poor or rich, good or bad, friend or foe believed him for his stainless and spotless character. People called him al-Amin because he did not do such things as might put a stain upon his character. A man of character never tells a lie even at the risk of his life.

Conclusion: Character indicates good deals, good thoughts, and good habits. The character is the crown and glory like the rose — that spreads its fragrance all around

FAQ’s of Character Essay

What is a character.

Character is the combination of honesty, nobility, truthfulness, sympathy, and charity. It is the focus of all other virtues.

What is the importance of character?

Character leads a man and his nation to the top level of development and prosperity.

What makes a good character?

Man's mentality and behavior which makes him not only modest confident friendly, and happy, but also acceptable and pleasing to other people with whom he interacts.

What is an example of a character?

Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (sm) was the best example of character.

About the Author

This is my personal Blog. I love to play with Web. Blogging, Web design, Learning, traveling and helping others are my passion.This blog is the place where I write anything whatever comes to my mind. You can call it My Personal Diary. This blog is the partner of My Endless Journey

Comment Policy: Your words are your own, so be nice and helpful if you can. Please, only use your real name and limit the number of links submitted in your comment. We accept clean XHTML in comments, but don't overdo it, please.Let's have a personal and meaningful discussion.

Please Say Something or Ask Any question about this topic! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Character Makes a Man Best Asset

The character is the best asset of human life. It is not what we receive from our family or friends, but our character is our monopoly. It is almost indescribable. The real identity of a man lies in his character, and not in his wealth, power, or appearance. The good character also shows leadership and value. It’s our view, our attitude to define and live life. But it is such a thing which does not come down at man’s feet from heavens; he has to achieve it.

Character refers to the way in which a person thinks or feels demonstrated by his behavior. It is what we can call is the reflection of our mind and soul that adds up together and holds you firm in any adverse situation. It is bright with the heavenly light of truth and humanity, soft with the beauty of forgiveness, strong with the strength of imperturbability and patience. It is built up over years and hence it is majorly defined by one’s thoughts carried on through childhood. After all, habits are defined by a determined character.

History has witnessed great men such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln who demonstrated some unique qualities that differentiated them from the rest. The world is replete with examples of such people. As has been said earlier, the mentality and system of behavior that develops within a man as a unique combination of various human qualities are called character. Of these qualities the most notable are kindness, love, forgiveness, patience, sympathy, helping attitude, benevolence, self-education and well-educatedness, amiability, broad-mindedness, imperturbability, and flexibility. The energy, value, and service a person contributes to a circumstance.

Generally, all these qualities are not found in a man’s character at a specific point in time. Good characteristics imbibed over time make a person have a constructive mindset. Everything is interlinked closely in this world. That is why he has to continue to build up his character lifelong. And this way even a man-on-the-street can turn to be a great man in the future. Good habits define the character of a person which makes him go far in life. But even then the task of building up a character does not come to an end.

City Life – Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages and disadvantages of solar energy, pleasure and displeasure of shopping, natural calamities in bangladesh, recruitment and selection process of brac international, dealing with hardware computer repair, sinusal infections, letter for declaration of special discount offer, assignment on vision of bangladesh 2050 and 2021, alsakharovite-zn, latest post, atomic hydrogen welding, variable-frequency transformer (vft), mathematical developments enable advancements in seismic activity detection, quantum tornadoes give a path to comprehending black holes, spark-gap transmitter.

• Website Inauguration Function.
• Vocational Placement Cell Inauguration
• Media Coverage.
• Certificate & Recommendations
• Privacy Policy
• Science Project Metric
• Social Studies 8 Class
• Computer Fundamentals
• Introduction to C++
• Programming Methodology
• Programming in C++
• Data structures
• Boolean Algebra
• Object Oriented Concepts
• Database Management Systems
• Open Source Software
• Operating System
• PHP Tutorials
• Earth Science
• Physical Science
• Sets & Functions
• Coordinate Geometry
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Statics and Probability
• Accountancy
• Business Studies
• Political Science
• English (Sr. Secondary)

Hindi (Sr. Secondary)

• Punjab (Sr. Secondary)
• Accountancy and Auditing
• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology
• Automobile Technology
• Electrical Technology
• Electronics Technology
• Hotel Management and Catering Technology
• IT Application
• Marketing and Salesmanship
• Office Secretaryship
• Stenography
• Hindi Essays
• English Essays

Letter Writing

• Shorthand Dictation

Essay, Paragraph or Speech on “Character Makes a Man” Complete Essay, Speech for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Character Makes a Man

What is character and what place it has in the assessment of personality of a man has been a subject matter of discussion for centuries by psychologists, educationists, religious leaders and administrators. There have been no set conclusions as to the definition of character. The definition of character has been undergoing change or has been tilted by different thinkers according to their preoccupation of the mind. The scope and the place as well as the definition of character have also been undergoing transformation according to the stage of civilisation in which man was placed.

The definition of character and the place assigned to it in assessing the usefulness or uselessness of a man or a woman and his or her suitability for a particular profession has also been undergoing a change according to the customs and conventions prevalent in a particular country. The words—moral and immoral—have been associated with character. To elaborate this it means that to the acts of a man or a woman, external acts have been considered to be the outcome of the basic instincts that a man or a woman possesses within, and his or her character has been assessed as positive or negative. If positive, then it is moral; if negative, then immoral, on the basis of these acts.

The external act or thinking of a person is subject to not only his or her instincts but also the existing customs and conventions of a particular society and of the same society at different stages of its existence. The word ‘character’ has therefore remained absolutely flexible. A particular trait of a man’s character that has been considered good at a particular stage, may be considered bad now, and what has been considered bad earlier may be considered good at present.

What is considered to have no bearing the character of a man in the Western society these days may be considered to be degeneration or moral degradation according to certain standards and values set in the Eastern countries. For the people of these countries the older civilisations still hold good. Character has, therefore, been inevitably linked with the customs of a particular country and within a country of a particular society.

According to the Chamber’s 20th Century Dictionary, the word ‘character’ has a very wide scope and can be used in different ways and meanings by different persons. It has defined character as a letter, sign, figure. stamp or distinctive mark; a mark of any kind, a symbol in writing—writing generally handwriting, a secret cipher; any essential feature of peculiarity—nature, personal appearance; the aggregate of peculiar qualities which constitute personal or national individuality—moral qualities, especially the reputation of possessing them—a formal statement of the qualities of person who has been in one’s service or employment—official position, rank or status.

To what extent and in what manner does character. therefore, contribute to the making of a person depends invariably on the meaning that one attaches to this word and the place that one is prepared to give it in one’s daily life. A certain category of people are likely to give a very enhanced interpretation to character in shaping the individual life.

Certain persons are of the opinion that character is rot in the hands of a person to make or unmake, it owes its origin to the heredity of a person. to the environments in which he or she has lived and to the economic and social pressures to which he or she has been subjected. The psychologists of the modern time are apt to agree more with this trend of thought—that the environment has very vital role to shape the very character of a person. The place of character in the life of a man and the role that character plays is, therefore, adduce to a variety of reasons and it is difficult to imagine a situation where one single factor alone might have been responsible in shaping the character of a person.

There have been varied views and opinions, but all perhaps agree on one common factor; that is the character of a person, whatever, it is the index of the state of mind or is the index of personality of that person. Personality in this sense means the overall total sum effect that a person produces on another person when they interact.

In other words, it means the impact of one’s behaviour, talks, etc. that one leaves on the other person after they have met. The character is also the motive power in driving a person to his various dealings with other men and women around him. The details of role that the character has to play in the life of a person may differ in different people. But one thing is certain that every individual has some basic characteristics in him and those characteristics form the sheet anchor of his suitability in a particular society, for a particular post, for a particular responsibility and what not. Just as, therefore, the face is said to be the index of mind, the character is rightly said to be the index of a person in society.

About evirtualguru_ajaygour

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Quick Links

Popular Tags

Visitors question & answer.

• Gangadhar Singh on Essay on “A Journey in a Crowded Train” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.
• Hemashree on Hindi Essay on “Charitra Bal”, “चरित्र बल” Complete Hindi Essay, Paragraph, Speech for Class 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 Students.
• S.J Roy on Letter to the editor of a daily newspaper, about the misuse and poor maintenance of a public park in your area.
• ashutosh jaju on Essay on “If there were No Sun” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.
• Unknown on Essay on “A Visit to A Hill Station” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Download Our Educational Android Apps

Latest Desk

• Role of the Indian Youth | Social Issue Essay, Article, Paragraph for Class 12, Graduation and Competitive Examination.
• Students and Politics | Social Issue Essay, Article, Paragraph for Class 12, Graduation and Competitive Examination.
• Menace of Drug Addiction | Social Issue Essay, Article, Paragraph for Class 12, Graduation and Competitive Examination.
• How to Contain Terrorism | Social Issue Essay, Article, Paragraph for Class 12, Graduation and Competitive Examination.
• Sanskrit Diwas “संस्कृत दिवस” Hindi Nibandh, Essay for Class 9, 10 and 12 Students.
• Nagrik Suraksha Diwas – 6 December “नागरिक सुरक्षा दिवस – 6 दिसम्बर” Hindi Nibandh, Essay for Class 9, 10 and 12 Students.
• Jhanda Diwas – 25 November “झण्डा दिवस – 25 नवम्बर” Hindi Nibandh, Essay for Class 9, 10 and 12 Students.
• NCC Diwas – 28 November “एन.सी.सी. दिवस – 28 नवम्बर” Hindi Nibandh, Essay for Class 9, 10 and 12 Students.
• Example Letter regarding election victory.
• Example Letter regarding the award of a Ph.D.
• Example Letter regarding the birth of a child.
• Example Letter regarding going abroad.
• Letter regarding the publishing of a Novel.

Vocational Edu.

• English Shorthand Dictation “East and Dwellings” 80 and 100 wpm Legal Matters Dictation 500 Words with Outlines.
• English Shorthand Dictation “Haryana General Sales Tax Act” 80 and 100 wpm Legal Matters Dictation 500 Words with Outlines meaning.
• English Shorthand Dictation “Deal with Export of Goods” 80 and 100 wpm Legal Matters Dictation 500 Words with Outlines meaning.
• English Shorthand Dictation “Interpreting a State Law” 80 and 100 wpm Legal Matters Dictation 500 Words with Outlines meaning.

Literary Theory and Criticism

Home › Experimental Novels › Analysis of James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Analysis of James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on December 31, 2020 • ( 0 )

This is the title that Joyce gave to his first published novel, derived, as noted below, from the shorter version given to an earlier prose piece. Joyce composed A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man over the course of seven years, and, although it represented a significant advancement from earlier work, it undeniably grew out of a long-standing plan for a Kunstlerroman (novel about the development of an artist) whose early manifestation appears in the surviving fragments of the novel Stephen Hero , which was abandoned within a year or so after Joyce had left Dublin in favor of work on Dubliners .

In its final version A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man stands in very distant relation to Stephen Hero , the work from which it was derived, but its link to this ur-work remains a useful measure of its achievement. The episodic format and concern with the consciousness of its protagonist in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man announce a modernist disposition absent from the surviving fragments of Stephen Hero even as they express the concern, apparent in Joyce’s earliest writing, for the difficulty in defining an artistic identity in an unremittingly parochial world. The narrative’s supple oscillation between detached objectivity and an empathetic awareness of Stephen’s most intimate thoughts, desires, and apprehensions shows a discursive sophistication not present in its predecessor while at the same time they mark the maturing artistic vision of an author now firmly in control of descriptive patterns only partially comprehended before.

When it began to appear in serial form in 1914, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man seemed to display far greater affinity, both formally and thematically, with Dubliners than with Stephen Hero. Nonetheless, the fundamental thematic features that shaped the narrative trajectory of the earlier prose work retain pride of place in its successor. Like Stephen Hero, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man chronicles the life of an emerging artist, Stephen Dedalus (essentially the same character who appeared in the earlier work, with a slight modification in the spelling of his surname). The discourse follows the gradual maturation of Stephen from his infancy, through his primary, secondary, and university education, to the eve of his departure from Ireland. It displays a similar fascination with the most mundane elements in Stephen’s life, and it asserts the same presumption of distinction in his nature.

Unlike Stephen Hero, however, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man avoids the imaginative constraints and mechanical accounts that can grow out of naturalism by not attempting a detailed sequential account of Stephen’s life. Instead, it introduces epiphanic moments to give the narrative a unique discursive rhythm, breaking up the action into discrete episodes and drawing readers into the action to resolve the apparent disunities of the fragmented accounts. As a result, the narrative feels free to move abruptly from chapter to chapter and even from scene to scene, while trusting to the reader the obligation to make the connections among them.

Of course, that is not to say that anarchy reigns. The overall narrative is united thematically, and the story that is driving events traces with increasing insistence Stephen’s growing alienation from the inflexible social, cultural, and creative environments in Ireland that threaten first to circumscribe and then to stifle the imagination of the young artist.

The narrative features withdrawal but not defeat—ultimately privileging an interpretive strategy that parallels the techniques of “silence, exile, and cunning” that in the final chapter Stephen announces as his weapons of self-defense. In a carefully choreographed sequence of events, culminating in the final chapter, the narrative records Stephen’s progressive disillusionment with the central institutions defining the nature of Irish- Catholic society: the family, the church, and the nationalist movement. The striking feature of this movement lies in the way that its restrained development mimics the gradual enlightenment that comes out of most human experience. Thus, through a skillfully orchestrated sequence of events stretched over the five chapters of the novel, Stephen successively comes to a greater and greater sense of each institution as an oppressive and inhibitive force, antipathetic to all that he has come to value in his life. As a result, he turns with increasing determination from society and toward art.

As noted already, critics have come to see A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man as a paradigmatic modernist novel, a work of fiction that cleanly breaks from earlier artistic conventions and that establishes a commitment to an aesthetic vision as a moral value, but the very label runs the risk of limiting one’s sense of Joyce’s achievement. Rather than see the work as a benchmark in literary history, it is far more useful to consider the source of its continuing impact on contemporary readers. Given the episodic structure of the discourse, this approach is best accomplished through a chapter-by-chapter survey. However, a slight detour is first necessary.

James Joyce/Getty Images

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man stands as Joyce’s only published work preceded by an epigraph: Et ignotas animum dimittit in artes . The passage comes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses , and it can be translated as “he turned his mind to unknown arts.” It records the response of Daedalus, the fabulous artificer, when told by King Minos of Crete that he and his son would not be allowed to leave the island. Daedalus in turn produced the wax wings that allowed him and Icarus to soar away but that also led to his son’s death when the young man flew too close to the sun and the wax melted. This epigraph traces wonderfully the narrative movement of each chapter, which ends on a high note only to be brought low by the depressing image or scene that introduces the next chapter. Even more to the point for readers, the epigraph stands as an open invitation to interpretive freedom. The vague pronoun of the phrase (it becomes masculine only because of Ovid’s context) and the image of imaginative exploration invite all readers, men and women, to open their minds to new ways of seeing.

The epigraph also serves as a good reminder of the provisionality of the novel’s title. This is “a” portrait, with the indefinite article providing a sense of the openness and subjectivity of the narrative. Further, a portrait by its very nature reflects as much of the perceiver as it does of the subject. Thus, even before one begins to read, Joyce has offered ample warning that those who approach the text seeking definitive meaning or a prescriptive reading will only succeed in creating a great deal of frustration for themselves.

Chapter 1 immediately enforces the need for the interpretive flexibility suggested by the title and epigraph. It announces its groundbreaking intentions by opening the novel with an arresting departure from conventional narrative forms: an abrupt introduction into the experiences of the work’s central character that demands immediate and sustained reader involvement. The fractured recapitulation of the fairy tale that Stephen’s father, Simon Dedalus, tells to his young son, nicknamed Baby Tuckoo—“Once upon a time and a very good time it was . . .”—challenges traditional interpretive methods and announces a new role for the reader. From these first few lines, the source of the speaker and function of the narrative come into question. This is not to say that the narrative is flawed but rather that it is intentionally incomplete or ambiguous. Joyce self-consciously sustains a range of interpretive options within his discourse by allowing the reader to resolve or complete such moments in the narrative. The reader quickly sees that, from early on, much of the meaning of the novel will derive directly from his or her own interpretive choices, without the usual authorial guidance. Further, these decisions have a provisionality that allows readers to reconfigure the meaning of the novel every time they encounter it.

Immediately following this opening, readers encounter the disturbing and disorienting images of fear and punishment. As young Stephen cowers under a table, he learns that the consequences of disobedience have mythic authority: “Eagles will come and pluck out his eyes.” At the same time, as the phrase “Pull out his eyes Apologize” is repeated in a singsong fashion, the reader must decide if this represents the voice of authority hammering home the lesson or the consciousness of an already rebellious Stephen throwing back the threat in a mocking tone.

Already, two key features of the narrative have become evident to readers. The voice that recounts the experiences of Stephen Dedalus, while not exactly Stephen’s consciousness, has at all times a keen sense of Stephen’s feelings. Further, that voice articulates its views in a vocabulary roughly equivalent to what one would expect from Stephen at whatever age he is when the discourse recounts specific experiences or attitudes. This gives readers a powerful sense of the maturation process even as it conveys a feeling of intimate knowledge of the developing attitudes of the central character.

Finally, these first two pages of the novel provide a brief introduction of the central themes that A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man will take up— the roles of family, Catholicism, and nationalism in the formation of identity. None are developed in any detail, but that too suits the structure that Joyce has chosen. Just as the very young Stephen will only be aware of these institutions in very general and unformed fashion, readers glimpse their significance in his consciousness without a specific idea of their effect.

Next, the narrative goes on to describe life at Stephen’s first school, Clongowes Wood  College, the prestigious institution that marks the beginning of Stephen’s association with the Jesuits. In the process, the discourse begins to outline for the reader the particular character traits that will set Stephen apart from others, and the challenges that he will face in his efforts to sustain the uniqueness of his nature in a society that emphasizes conformity.

Stephen feels the predictable homesickness and disorientation of a very young boy sent away from home. He finds himself frustrated by being the butt of jokes—when Wells asks him if he kisses his mother, Stephen is chagrined to learn that there is no answer that will not produce ridicule. At the same time he comes to take pride in his budding intellectual abilities and in his growing sense of how he is expected to behave. (When he becomes ill after Wells shoulders him into the muddy water of the square ditch, he keeps the schoolboy code of silence.) While a hasty reading might suggest that Stephen is simply an outsider shunned by his classmates, a more careful assessment shows a young boy carefully making his way in a complex world. He gains a measure of respect from his fellows even as he also shows his callowness.

The chapter ends with two well-known episodes that underscore the complexity of Stephen’s world. In the first, readers see the fragility of the structures that seemingly support and nourish the young boy. In the second, we get a good sense of the resilience of Stephen in the face of injustice.

The Christmas dinner scene begins with deceptive good cheer. In an upbeat tone it announces a pleasant rite of passage, Stephen’s first opportunity to eat a holiday meal with the adults rather than with the other young children. However, the cheerfulness that initially characterizes the narrative quickly dissipates with the outbreak of a bitter argument over Charles Stewart Panell between Stephen’s father and Mr. Casey, supporters of Parnell, and Dante Riordan, an ardent nationalist who nonetheless follows the dictates of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in condemning Parnell as an adulterer. The quarrel captures stark divisions among political, social, and spiritual goals without offering a clear sense of right and wrong in the dispute. The argument ends with a paradoxical inversion of stereotypical roles—the men are in tears and Dante boisterously exits the room shouting her defiance—and it leaves Stephen wondering which if any of the Irish institutions invoked by both sides during the bitter confrontation—family, church, and nationalist movement—can be trusted.

The chapter concludes with a description of maltreatment and melioration that inverts the pattern of the Christmas dinner scene. Back at Clongowes Wood, some time after the Christmas recess, an aura of confusion and resentment permeates the world of the boys at school. Some older students have done something so serious that the Jesuit teachers have responded with a series of repressive punishments applied to everyone. In a wonderfully developed interchange in which the boys try to puzzle out the cause of the turmoil, Joyce captures both the naïveté and the bravado of the group. One of the students, Athy, claims to know the cause of the turmoil, and sententiously announces that the older boys were “smugging.” Though no one knows the meaning of the word, including the reader, all the others nod as if the situation was now crystal clear. (The word in fact is a neologism that Joyce employs to make his point. It allows one to imagine whatever one wishes rather than contend with a narrative that strictly details the offense. Once again, this underscores Joyce’s intention to give the reader an integral role in completing the meaning of the text.)

The incident, whatever it may be, has also shaken the Jesuits at Clongowes Wood, and their reaction is to redouble discipline at the school. As a result of overzealous efforts to make an example of any and all offenders, Stephen, who cannot participate in lessons because his glasses have been broken, finds himself unfairly pandied by Father Dolan, the prefect of studies. (Pandying consisted of a series of sharp blows administered on the hands with a leather strap.) Stephen and his classmates feel the injustice of Father Dolan’s act, and his schoolfellows press Stephen to seek redress. When he goes to the rector, the Rev. John Conmee, SJ, to complain of this treatment, Stephen receives assurances that it will not recur. Conmee’s solicitous treatment of Stephen stands as an important, if underrated, element of the narrative. Joyce does not seek to evoke a Dickensian world that sets oppositions in stark contrast. Stephen’s break from social institutions comes gradually because, despite their flaws, the narrative records ample instances of their meliorating behavior. Thus, the chapter ends with Stephen feeling a genuine sense of triumph, for events have reaffirmed, for Stephen at least, the predictable order that social institutions can be said to bring to our lives, Of course, for readers, with the advantage of detachment and hindsight, the resemblance between order and authoritarianism stands out all too clearly and presages conflicts to follow. Nonetheless, the narrative’s unwillingness here to oversimplify the complexity of human interaction signals its sophisticated sense of the development of Stephen’s identity.

Chapter 2, like all subsequent chapters, opens with a marked shift in narrative tone from euphoria to depression. The first image one encounters reasserts one of the narrative’s favorite forms, inversion. Uncle Charles, the elderly relative who had been unable to intervene in chapter 1 to prevent the harsh conflict at the Christmas dinner, is now banished by Stephen’s father to a building behind the main house to smoke. Although in itself, the act seems trivial, it introduces themes of isolation and humiliation that will soon characterize the fortunes of the Dedalus family.

Throughout the summer in the south Dublin suburb of Blackrock, where the family has moved, Stephen gradually becomes aware of the changes in the world around him. The narrative establishes a seemingly innocent routine in Stephen’s life, even as it introduces disconcerting images such as that of Mickey Flynn, the track coach in appalling physical condition. Stephen comes to realize that unspecified obstacles will prevent him from returning to Clongowes Wood in the fall, and even more serious problems quickly become evident. Seeking less expensive housing, the Dedalus family soon moves again into Dublin proper, and the discourse begins to make direct reference to Simon Dedalus’s growing financial concerns that will accelerate over the remainder of the novel. In the midst of this unsettled time, Father Conmee, the former rector at Clongowes Wood College, who had come to Stephen’s aid at the end of chapter 1, again steps in to provide assistance. This time he does so by securing for Stephen (and probably Stephen’s brother Maurice) a scholarship to the prestigious Jesuit school, Belvedere college, in Dublin. (Father Conmee’s kindness is recounted secondhand by Simon Dedalus, who ran into Conmee on the street and who evidently persuaded the priest to intervene for Stephen. During this encounter, Conmee has also given Simon an account of Stephen’s visit after the pandying episode. As Simon retells the anecdote, Conmee comes across as less sympathetic and more amused than Stephen or perhaps the reader had realized. The priest’s recollection, as it is recounted by Simon to Stephen and the rest of the Dedalus family, has a dual function. It reminds readers of the highly subjective point of view that the narrative presents as it reflects Stephen’s views of the world, and it draws us once again into an active engagement with the text, leaving it to us to decide how, if at all, this very different impression of events affects Stephen’s sense of the occasion.)

In the episodic fashion that characterizes the narrative, the discourse abruptly shifts its attention to Stephen’s renewed academic career. At Belvedere, Stephen has quickly established his intellectual prowess and become one of the more notable students. In contrast to his rather diffident role at Clongowes Wood, at Belvedere Stephen has assumed the position of class leader, although he still maintains a measure of aloofness. This transition, however, has not gone completely smoothly, and the middle portion of the chapter chronicles a series of events that highlight Stephen’s intellectual and social rivalry with his classmate Vincent Heron.

As a striking contrast to Stephen’s success at Belvedere, the narrative also recounts the continuing financial deterioration of the Dedalus family. A trip that Stephen takes to Cork with his father to sell off the last of the Dedalus family property there to pay Simon’s accumulated debts highlights the consequences of Mr. Dedalus’s profligacy. At the same time, it shows, through his father’s drunken competitiveness with his son, a growing distance between Stephen and his family. At the same time, the narrative introduces ironic parallels between the father’s and the son’s handling of money. In the penultimate section of chapter 2, the discourse offers an extended account of Stephen’s spendthrift ways as he squanders the prize money of 33 pounds.

The closing episode unfolds with startling abruptness an account of a strangely passive Stephen apparently experiencing sexual initiation with a Dublin prostitute. (The narrative does not make clear whether Stephen had previously been to a prostitute, but his intense excitement and palpable nervousness make it seem unlikely.) As the final paragraph makes clear, it is the prostitute who initiates all of the action, while Stephen, with an artistlike detachment, both experiences and records the scene.

By the beginning of chapter 3 Stephen’s initial sensual euphoria has now become a near mechanical process of satiation. His imagination now takes as much pleasure contemplating the possibility of stew for dinner as recalling the gratification offered by the prostitutes he has known. In this chapter the narrative focuses almost exclusively on giving an account of a religious retreat that the boys at Belvedere have to make, and it specifically foregrounds the sermons preached by the retreat master, Father Arnall.

Although the retreat receives a rather melodramatic representation, heightened by the selective attentiveness of Stephen’s overactive imagination, the liturgy itself was a long-established practice and, as Joyce would have known, one held in particular esteem by the Jesuits. (The Society of Jesus was the first religious order that made the retreat obligatory for its members.) The format of the retreat described in chapter 3 follows the standard approach prescribed at that time by the church. It has the retreat master leading the boys toward personal assessments through a series of meditations on death, the Last Judgment, Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.

The narrative plays a selective and possibly misleading role in its account of the retreat in which Stephen participates. It reports verbatim portions of the sermons, and then counterpoints the priest’s words with Stephen’s reactions to them. To anyone unfamiliar with the practice, it might seem that these passages cover the entire retreat. To the contrary, what we see in the text is a reflection of the factors that most hold Stephen’s attention: pride and guilt. As a result, emphasis falls on representations of guilt and punishment.

Despite the actual breadth of the retreat format, in passage after passage, Stephen dwells exclusively upon the consequences of his mortal sins with something akin to morbid pleasure, and this state of mind brings him to a form of repentance, based almost exclusively on a mixture of conceit over the presumed magnitude of his sins and fear of retribution as a consequence, that highlights the conclusion of the chapter.

The primary motivation for Stephen’s repentance offers important insights into his nature. Though remorse plays at the margins of Stephen’s feelings and a fear of punishment has a significance in Stephen’s decision to repent, pride stands as the dominant impulse in the chapter. Pride initially leads Stephen to feel that his sins are too grave for forgiveness. As the retreat sermons unfold, his pride makes him feel as if every word were directed at him. His pride causes him to dream of a personal vision of hell, like the great saints mentioned by Father Arnall. And pride leads him to imagine reconciliation not through his own approach to the Eucharist but rather with the Body of Christ coming to him: “The ciborium had come to him.”

At the same time, despite these reservations about the nature of his reconciliation with the church, Stephen’s gesture of repentance seems sincere. Indeed, this marks a time of genuine happiness for Stephen. However, predictably, the initial gratification derived from the renewed practice of his faith has become a habitual adherence to a mechanistic routine by the time chapter 4 begins. The episode opens with a detailed account of the near-masochistic regime of spiritual exercises and acts of selfdenial that Stephen has formulated for himself in an effort to atone for his sins. Nonetheless, despite the fervor characterizing Stephen’s commitment to piety, this scheme rapidly degenerates into a series of perfunctory, emotionless practices emphasizing the mortifications of the flesh rather than the spiritual enlightenment that is the real goal of these acts.

In a scene that raises a number of problematic issues relating to belief and service, the narrative focuses attention on the impact of religion on the life of a prospective artist. As one would expect in the tight-knit atmosphere of the school, Stephen’s piety has come to the attention of the director of studies at Belvedere. He meets with Stephen and asks the young man to consider the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood, specifically as a member of the Society of Jesus. As in the retreat sermons, much of what the director says, particularly about the sacramental powers that priests enjoy, appeals to Stephen’s pride. Likewise, one does well to remember that the narrative emphasizes Stephen’s perspective, so hasty judgments about the manipulative quality of the suggestion oversimplify the dynamics of the exchange. Indeed, at one point, the director very bluntly urges careful consideration, for an ill-conceived decision to become a priest would be disastrous. In any case, the director’s suggestion precipitates a crisis of conscience in Stephen. He conducts a rigorous, probing consideration of the values that actually inform his natureand weighs them against the demands that such a full commitment to the church would place upon him. Ultimately, the confining life and rigorous discipline of the priesthood runs contrary to his perceived need for experiences to feed his creative impulses. This brings him to a decision to break with the church (a course of action made explicit in the next chapter) and choose art over religion as his life’s vocation.

The chapter ends with a passage that has come to be seen as a crucial moment in Stephen’s artistic development: the embodiment of the creative possibilities offered by his choice through the vision of a young girl wading in the waters of Dublin Bay. As Stephen walks along Dollymount Strand he sees a young woman, whom critics have come to label the Birdgirl, standing knee deep in the water. The beauty of this image has an aesthetic rather than an erotic impact on him that ultimately confirms for him the absolute correctness of his choice. It marks an epiphany in which Stephen realizes how much he wishes for the power to evoke through his writing the same sense of pleasure he feels as he contemplates the girl’s beauty.

As with the other moments of exhilaration that have ended previous chapters, this exuberance disappears with the opening of chapter 5. The scene in a tenement shows the tawdry, even desperate, daily life of the Dedalus family as they struggle to sustain themselves through increasing economic hardship. With harsh criticism of Stephen from Simon Dedalus opening the chapter and his mother’s plea for him to return to the church near its end, Stephen’s growing alienation from his family brackets a series of episodes marking his break with Ireland and his full commitment to art.

Clashes with authority have marked every stage of Stephen’s development. Here the narrative methodically traces Stephen’s final rejection of the institutions that have endeavored to set his moral direction—Irish nationalism, the Catholic Church, and the family. In this fashion it lays out his reasons for breaking with each, and then leaves it to the reader to decide how close Stephen has come to achieving his goal of being an artist.

The first formative force the narrative addresses is patriotism. To his friend Davin (the only character in the novel to call Stephen familiarly by a diminutive of his first name—Stevie), Stephen explains that he cannot give himself over to the Irish nationalist movement. In Stephen’s opinion the history of hypocrisy and betrayal that surrounds Irish patriotic endeavors precludes any rational human being from giving his loyalty to this cause.

Before going on to address Stephen’s break with other Irish institutions, the narrative offers a sketch of the values governing the alternative approach to life that the young man has embraced. To Vincent Lynch, a fellow student at University College, Dublin, Stephen outlines the tenets of the aesthetic theory that have come to replace Catholic dogma as the moral center of his universe. This is a section full of the self-importance and sententiousness that can at times dominate Stephen’s nature. Wisely, the narrative punctuates Stephen’s pedantic and humorless disquisition with Lynch’s interjection of his sardonic views and his complaints of the hangover that plagues him. Although the sinuousness of the aesthetic theory itself challenges readers, it raises a larger interpretive issue, namely, to what degree one should apply the values expressed by Stephen to the novel in which they appear. Joyce wisely does not force the issue, but no complete interpretation of the book can ignore the need to come to some resolution of this question.

After the dry examination of artistic values, the narrative returns to the core issues of social environment. Talking to another friend and confidant, Cranly, also a classmate at University College, Dublin, Stephen touches on his religious alienation when he explains his break with his mother over his unwillingness to profess publicly his Catholic faith by making his Easter duty. While Lynch, suffering from the effects of a heavy night of drink, was a distracted and often disinterested listener, Cranly provides a very different response. Although he evinces no greater loyalty to Irish institutions than does Stephen, Cranly does maintain a cynical pragmatism that challenges Stephen’s idealistic approach. For Cranly, appearances mean little, and so apparent acquiescence to the authority of the family, church, and state will have little effect uponhim. He offers Stephen the alternative of accommodation, and the logic behind his reasoning shows how tempting his suggestions must have been. In the end, however, Stephen rejects Cranly’s approach, and in doing so he forecloses the possibility of continuing to live in Ireland.

Near the end of the chapter, the narrative makes a final, radical shift in form, and introduces direct evidence of Stephen’s artistic maturation. In a series of diary entries, readers see Stephen’s summation of his views on Ireland and art, and they can judge from this written evidence how close Stephen has come to attaining his ambition. As Stephen completes his account of his emancipation from Irish cultural institutions, he utters a paradoxical declaration that neatly sums up his imaginative condition. On the point of leaving the claustrophobic atmosphere of Ireland to go to Paris, he nonetheless affirms his inextricable connection to his cultural, spiritual, and imaginative heritage, declaring: “I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race” ( A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man 252–253). Stephen will not come to a full sense of this dependence upon Ireland as an inspiration for his art until the pages of Ulysses , but this statement clearly announces the direction in which his development is headed.

Although readers in Joyce’s time may not have realized it, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man has established itself as the foremost example of English modernism in the canon. As one expects from a modernist work, it offers a thorough critique of the key social institutions that seek to shape the life of its central character—in Stephen’s case the family, the church, and the state (in the form of Irish nationalism). With deft attention to detail, the narrative traces, in the five chapters of the novel, the gradual lessening of influence exerted by each institution. It avoids the melodramatic sunderings chronicled by some of the lesser modernists like D. H. Lawrence, and instead presents an account of Stephen’s cumulative sense of the inadequacy of the institutions in the world around him. As an alternative to the absence of valid guidance and support from these entities, the narrative shows the growing confidence of the artist’s ego as the valid benchmark for guiding behavior. Also in the modernist tradition, the narrative develops in an episodic, open-ended form that actively draws readers into the completion of its meaning.

Arnall, Father

He is a Jesuit priest who first appears in chapter 1 of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. As Stephen Dedalus’s Latin teacher at Clongowes Wood College, he exempts Stephen from his studies after Stephen breaks his eyeglasses. However, when the prefect of studies, Father Dolan, enters Father Arnall’s classroom and unjustly accuses the boy of being an “idle little loafer” ( A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man 50), Father Arnall does not defend Stephen when he is pandied. Later, in chapter 3 of the novel, Father Arnall reappears to give the sermons during the retreat conducted when Stephen is at Belvedere College. The fierce tone that Father Arnall adopts during the retreat is strikingly different from his classroom demeanor at Clongowes, but in fact the outline of the sermons comes from a very detailed program that all retreat masters of Joyce’s day would have followed.

In A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man , Brigid is a servant in the Dedalus household. Although she does not appear in the novel, while lying sick in the infirmary at Clongowes Wood College the young Stephen Dedalus recalls the words of a song about death and burial that Brigid had taught him ( A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man 24).

Butt, D., SJ

In Stephen Hero Father Butt is identified as the dean of students at University College, Dublin, where he also teaches English. He probably reappears lighting the fire in the Physicans Theatre episode of chapter 5 of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man , although in that novel the dean of students is not identified by name. Most likely, Joyce modeled his depiction of Father Butt on his recollections of the Rev. Joseph Darlington, SJ, who was the dean of studies and a professor of English at University College, Dublin when Joyce attended (1898–1902).

Casey, John

He appears in the pivotal Christmas dinner scene in chapter 1. There, he and Simon Dedalus argue with Mrs. Riordan (Dante) over the proper role of the Catholic Church in Irish politics, and, in particular, he condemns the church’s repudiation of Charles Stewart Parnell. The Fenian John KELLY, a friend of John Stanislaus Joyce, James’s father, served as the model for John Casey.

Charles, Uncle

He is Stephen Dedalus’s elderly, maternal granduncle. Uncle Charles is present at the Christmas dinner when John Casey, Mr. Dedalus, and Dante Riordan argue over Charles Stewart Parnell. Chapter 2 opens with a request by Stephen’s father that Uncle Charles smoke his “black twist” tobacco in the outhouse, a shed behind the main building, to which the old man good-naturedly agrees. Later the narrative describes Stephen spending much of his time in Blackrock during the early part of the summer with Uncle Charles. Joyce based Uncle Charles on William O’Connell, a prosperous businessman in Cork who was a maternal uncle of Joyce’s father.

Clery, Emma

She is a young woman, specifically identified by name in Stephen Hero , who is the object of Stephen Daedalus’s romantic fantasies there. In A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man , she may be the E—— C—— with whom the young Stephen Dedalus rides home on a tram after a children’s party at Harold’s Cross, and whom he is tempted to kiss. She seems to appear throughout the novel both as Stephen’s idealized vision of Irish womanhood and as a representation of the Irish society’s stereotypical attitudes of and toward women against which Stephen rebels. In chapter 3, during the retreat, Stephen imagines that Emma is with him in an encounter with the Blessed Virgin ( P 116). Near the end of the novel ( P 252) Stephen describes his awkward meeting with an unnamed young woman in Grafton Street who seems very like Emma, sympathetic to Stephen’s problems yet a bit afraid of his unconventional attitudes. In Monasterboice , a play by Padraic Colum about Joyce’s quest for artistic identity, Colum uses the name Emma for the girl who accompanies Joyce to the monastery at Monasterboice, and Colum attributes to her qualities similar to those that so attracted Stephen Dedalus to Emma in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

Conmee, Rev. John, SJ (1847–1910)

He was an actual Jesuit priest and the rector at Clongowes Wood College from 1885 to 1891. In 1893, Father Conmee arranged for both Joyce and his brother Stanislaus to attend Belvedere College on scholarships. According to Herbert Gorman, Joyce received comfort from Father Conmee and described him to Gorman as “a very decent sort of chap.” Conmee was appointed prefect of studies at Belvedere College (1891–92), prefect of studies at University College, Dublin (1893–95), superior of St. Francis Xavier’s Church (1897–1905), provincial (1905–09), and rector of Milltown Park (1909–10).

Fictional versions of Conmee appear in both A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses. In the first chapter of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man , Stephen Dedalus appeals to Father Conmee after being unjustly accused of idleness and pandied by Father Dolan. In the second chapter, Simon Dedalus relates having met Father Conmee, and announces that the priest has promised to intervene to obtain a scholarship for Stephen (and possibly his brother Maurice) to attend Belvedere College.

He appears in both Stephen Hero and in chapter 5 of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Cranly is a close friend of Stephen’s, and a classmate at University College, Dublin. Cranly provides pragmatic advice on how to get along in theclaustrophobic world of Dublin. During an extended walk around the city they discuss religious belief and family relations. Cranly is modeled on Joyce’s mild-mannered friend and confidant, John Francis Byrne.

He is a character who appears in chapter 5 of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man . Davin is one of Stephen Dedalus’s classmates at University College, Dublin. He is a nationalist who comes from rural Ireland, a devout Catholic, and a sexually chaste young man. In this respect, Davin stands as Stephen’s polar opposite. The contrast allows Davin to serve as a foil for Stephen’s attitudes, giving the reader a clear sense of the changes that have occurred in Stephen as he matures physically, emotionally, and psychologically over the course of the novel and as his literary aspirations develop. At the same time, despite their very different backgrounds and views, Davin enjoys a particularly close friendship with Dedalus, and he is the only person outside the family in the book to address Stephen by his first name. (In fact he uses the diminutive, Stevie, that no one else does.) The character of Davin is modeled on Joyce’s friend and university classmate George Clancy, who is also the model for the character of Madden who appears in Stephen Hero.

Dedalus, Katey

She is one of Stephen Dedalus’s younger sisters, appearing in both A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and in a more extended role in Ulysses . In chapter 5 of A Portrait, Mrs. Dedalus asks Katey to prepare the place for Stephen to wash, and she in turn asks her sister Boody.

Dedalus, Simon

He appears in both A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses. Simon Dedalus is the improvident and alcoholic father of Stephen Dedalus and the head of the Dedalus household. Like his precursor (Mr. Simon Daedalus in Stephen Hero ), Joyce modeled Mr. Dedalus’s character on that of his own father, John Stanislaus Joyce.

The consequences of Mr. Dedalus’s financial and social ruin significantly shape much of the material and emotional circumstances informing the life of Stephen Dedalus in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses . In spite of Mr. Dedalus’s failures, his intolerant temperament, his resentments, and his strong political and religious opinions, he is nonetheless presented as a witty raconteur and amiable socializer. His ability to tell a good story and sing a good song in pleasing tenor voice makes him a pleasant companion at least for those not dependent upon him for financial support. Throughout Stephen has ambivalent feelings for his father, and readers repeatedly see the danger for Stephen of becoming a Dublin character like Simon Dedalus.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man begins with direct references to Mr. Dedalus’s storytelling and singing, talents that make a lasting impression on the young Stephen and readers as well. As the novel develops and his financial circumstances worsen, he recedes into the background, relinquishing his role as head of the family and becoming merely a disruptive influence in the lives of his wife and children. In the final chapter, when asked about his father by Cranly, Stephen sardonically sums up the life of Simon Dedalus with a dismissive series of labels: “A medical student, an oarsman, a tenor, an amateur actor, a shouting politician, a small landlord, a small investor, a drinker, a good fellow, a storyteller, somebody’s secretary, something in a distillery, a taxgatherer, a bankrupt and at present a praiser of his own past” (P 241).

Dedalus, Stephen

He is the central character of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and a major character in Ulysses . Both his surname and given names have symbolic significance. Stephen was the name of the first Christian martyr, stoned to death for his religious convictions (see Acts 7:55–60 ). Dedalus (or Daedalus as the name appears in Stephen Hero ) was the mythical “fabulous artificer” who made feathered wings of wax with which he and his son Icarus escaped imprisonment on the island of Crete. (Icarus, however, flew too close tothe sun; the wax melted, and he plunged into the Ionian Sea and drowned.) Like the first Christian martyr with whom he shares a given name, Stephen, in advancing a new cause, breaks from tradition and faces persecution by his peers. Like Dedalus, he must use artifice and cunning to escape his own imprisonment—by the institutions of the family, the church and Irish nationalism. Stephen writes in his diary: “Old father, old artificer, stand me now and ever in good stead” ( P 252–253).

Although he does not narrate the novel, his point of view shapes the perspective of the work. As the central consciousness of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man , Stephen’s actions and attitudes set the pace and frame the development of the discourse. The book traces Stephen’s intellectual, artistic, and moral development from his earliest recollections as “Baby Tuckoo” through the various stages of his education at Clongowes Wood College, Belvedere College, and University College, Dublin, to his decision to leave Ireland for the Continent. The novel also follows the decline of the Dedalus family from upper-middleclass respectability to abject poverty, noting the progressive alienation of Stephen from his family as an almost inevitable consequence.

These deteriorating economic conditions develop rapidly in the second chapter, punctuated by the family’s move into Dublin and Simon Dedalus’s disastrous trip to Cork, accompanied by Stephen, to sell off the last of the family property. Given these events, it is no surprise that Stephen’s distancing from his family occurs in a direct and linear fashion. However, his relations with the church are characterized by a much greater degree of uncertainty and vacillation. After a period of unrestrained sexual indulgence while at Belvedere, Stephen returns to the church, terrified by the images conjured up during the sermons at the retreat recounted in chapter 3. As a consequence, Stephen embarks upon a rigorous penitential regimen. However, he finds that the prescribed spiritual exercises do not give him the satisfaction for which he had hoped. By the end of chapter 4, with his erotically charged aesthetic vision of the young woman wading, the Birdgirl on Dollymount Strand, Stephen has given himself completely over to art.

In the final chapter, a number of Stephen’s college classmates attempt in different ways to integrate him into the routine of Dublin life and thus bring him under the sway of dominant Irish social, cultural, religious, and political institutions. Davin seeks to enlist him in the nationalist cause. Vincent Lynch proposes small-scale debauchery as a means of sustaining himself in the suffocating atmosphere of Dublin middle-class life. Cranly, with perhaps the most seductive temptation, suggests that Stephen adopt the hypocrisy of superficial accommodation as a way of liberating himself from the censure of his fellow citizens. Stephen rejects all of these alternatives and remains devoted to his artistic vocation.

As the novel closes, he is about to leave Dublin to live in Paris, to attempt “to fly by those nets” of nationality, language, and religion and, as he writes in his diary, “to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race” ( P 203, 252–253). The Daedalus motif of the cunning artificer is alluded to here and culminates in these last lines of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

Dolan, Father

He is the unsympathetic prefect of studies at Clongowes Wood College who appears in chapter 1. His role as prefect of studies makes him an assistant to the rector and puts him in charge of the academic program. In Joyce’s novel, Father Dolan seems to be acting as a dean of discipline as well. He appears near the end of chapter 1 where he accuses Stephen Dedalus of having broken his eyeglasses on purpose to avoid studying. As a punishment for this supposed transgression, Father Dolan pandies Stephen. (That is, he hits the young man’s hands with a leather-covered pandybat.) Joyce modeled this character on Father James Daly, who served as prefect of studies when Joyce was attending Clongowes Wood and who reportedly punished Joyce in this way.

Doyle, Reverend Charles, SJ

He appears in chapter 2, identified as one of the Jesuit teachers at Belvedere College, though Stephen Dedalus does not study under him. The fictional Father Doyle is modeled on an actual faculty member of the same name. In 1921, Joyce wrote to Father Doyle enquiring about Belvedere House, the name by which the school had been called before it became Belvedere College.

These are presumably the initials of Emma Clery, the subject of a youthful poem written by Stephen and the girl with whom he seems to be enamored for most of the novel. In Stephen Hero , the narrative refers to her by her full name and not just by her initials. Flynn, Mike He is Stephen Dedalus’s running coach, appearing very briefly at the beginning of chapter 2. Flynn is identified as an old friend of Stephen’s father and is called the trainer of some of the most successful runners in modern times. Flynn was the proponent of a particularly rigid running style that Stephen had to follow: “his head high lifted, his knees well lifted and his hands held straight down by his sides” ( P 61).

Ghezzi, Rev. Charles, SJ

He is a Jesuit priest and the professor of Italian at University College, Dublin, under whom Joyce studied the works of Dante Alighieri, Gabriele D’Annunzio, and other Italian writers. Joyce would also often discuss with Father Ghezzi philosophical issues pertaining to Giordano Bruno and the aesthetics of St. Thomas Aquinas. Ghezzi served as a model for Father Artifoni, Stephen Daedalus’s Italian instructor in Stephen Hero . In A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man , however, Joyce used Father Ghezzi’s actual name for the character. In chapter 5 in the diary entry of March 24, Stephen Dedalus refers to his instructor as “little roundhead rogue’s eye Ghezzi” (P 249).

Henry, Rev. William, SJ

He was the actual rector of Belvedere College during Joyce’s time there. He also instructed Joyce in Latin. Additionally, according to Joyce’s biographer Peter Costello, Father Henry also directed the Sodality of Our Lady, to which James Joyce was admitted on December 7, 1895, and of which he was elected prefect, or head, on September 25, 1896. Throughout A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Henry is never referred to by name but always by the title “the rector” or “the director.” In chapter 3, he speaks to Stephen Dedalus’s class about their forthcoming retreat, and in chapter 4, after a prolonged discussion he invites Stephen to consider a priestly vocation. This is a key scene, for Jesuits are prohibited from actively recruiting someone to join the order, and critics have debated whether Father Henry oversteps his authority in what he says to Stephen. (Father Henry also served as the model for Father Butler in the Dubliners story “An Encounter.”)

Heron, Vincent

He appears in chapter 2 in the contradictory roles of Stephen Dedalus’s aggressive rival and putative school friend at Belvedere College. In its description of him, the narrative puns upon Heron’s name by describing his “mobile face, beaked like a bird’s” ( P 76), employing the avian imagery prevalent throughout the novel. This particular group of metaphors often indicates a threatening presence, as in the opening scene in which Stephen is menaced by the image of an eagle pulling out his eyes ( P 8).

In keeping with this pattern Heron, too, takes the role of a threatening figure in Stephen’s life. Heron embodies the narrow-minded, entrenched attitudes of the middle-class lifestyle that increasingly presents itself in opposition to Stephen’s gestures of independence. During their first encounter, Heron demonstrates this antipathy for any sort of autonomous thinking. He clumsily tries to force Stephen to admit that the poet Byron was heretical and immoral by instigating an attack by two other classmates on Stephen ( P 81f). Later, as the reader observes near the end of chapter 2, Heron will become more polished in his efforts to force Stephen into conformity, just as Stephen will become more adept at using his wit to sidestep such attempts.

Lynch, Vincent

He is a character who appears as a student at University College, Dublin, in both Stephen Hero and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and later as a medical student in Ulysses. In Stephen Hero , Lynch serves as a sounding board for Stephen Daedalus, facilitating the exposition of his views on women and the Catholic Church. In chapter 5 of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, he listens to Stephen’s disquisition on aesthetics, and his acerbic comments, growing out of his hungover condition, punctuate Stephen’s disquisition and prevent it from becoming pedantic. Joyce’s Dublin friend Vincent Cosgrave was the model for Lynch.

He is a character, identified only by his surname, who appears in chapter 5. The narrative depicts MacCann as the most vocal political activist at University College, Dublin. MacCann champions the cause of pacifism, and bristles at Stephen Dedalus’s refusal to sign a document that he is circulating praising the efforts of Czar Nicholas to promote universal peace. Joyce modeled MacCann on Francis Sheehy-Skeffington, a friend and University College classmate. McGlade He is a character who appears only briefly in chapter 1. The narrative identifies McGlade as one of the prefects at Clongowes Wood College. From the conversation between Stephen Dedalus and the other boys, it appears that he is associated at least marginally with the boys who are involved in the notorious smuggling  incident.

Moonan, Simon

He is a character who appears in the first chapter, identified by the narrative as one of the older boys at Clongowes Wood College and a favorite of “the fellows of the football fifteen.” An aura of homoeroticism surrounds Moonan, although nothing more specific than innuendo appears in the story. Because Moonan is one of the boys implicated in the smugging incident, he faces a flogging as punishment. He may also be the Moonan who is referred to in chapter 5 as a fairly dull student who has nonetheless passed his exams at University College, Dublin.

Moran, Father

This is the name of a priest who appears in both Stephen Hero and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man . In both novels his expression of nationalist sentiments and his friendship with Emma Clery arouse equal measures of disdain and jealousy in Stephen Dedalus.

Riordan, Mrs.

She is one of the characters who appears in chapter 1, where she is called “Dante.” (A corruption of “auntie,” the name “Dante” is a term of familiarity and affection.) Though not an actual blood relation, Mrs. Riordan is a widow who has lived for a time in the Dedalus household, apparently as a governess. Despite the benevolence implied by her name, for the young Stephen Dedalus she stands as a harsh authority figure. At one point in the opening pages of the novel, the narrative goes so far as to make her menacing. When Stephen’s mother asks him to apologize for some unspecified misbehavior, Dante threateningly adds: “O, if not, the eagles will come and pull out his eyes” ( P 8). Her attitude epitomizes the narrowminded religious and political views Stephen will later in life reject.

Mrs. Riordan also plays a key role in the Christmas dinner scene. There she is portrayed as headstrong and intolerant, with inflexible religious and political views that make her unsympathetic to the recently disgraced Irish political leader Charles Stewart Parnell. After a violent dinner-table argument with Simon Dedalus and John Casey over the Irish rejection of Parnell after his adulterous affair with Kitty O’Shea became a matter of public knowledge, Mrs. Riordan stalks out of the room and disappears from the narrative. Mrs. Riordan’s character is based upon that of Mrs. “Dante” Hearn Conway, a woman originally from Cork who came into the Joyce household in 1887 as a governess. Like her fictional counterpart, Mrs. Conway had a bitter fight (with John JOYCE and his Fenian friend John Kelly) over the character of Parnell during the Joyce family Christmas dinner in 1891. She seems to have left the Joyces shortly thereafter.

He is a character who appears in chapter 2 in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man as the English master at Belvedere College, and inStephen Hero where he is identified, in passing, as Stephen Daedalus’s English professor at University College, Dublin. In chapter 2 of A Portrait , Mr. Tate good-naturedly calls attention to a putative line of heresy in one of Stephen’s class essays, thereby unwittingly precipitating Stephen’s confrontation after school with his rival Vincent Heron and two other bullies. The character of Mr. Tate is based upon one of Joyce’s English teachers at Belvedere, Mr. George Dempsey, who taught at the college from 1884 to 1923.

Vance, Eileen

She is a character who appears in the first two chapters of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man . She lives in Bray and is the neighbor and childhood friend of Stephen Dedalus. Stephen’s attraction to Eileen is tempered by Dante Riordan’s admonition not to play with her because the Vances are Protestant. Joyce based this character on his recollections of a childhood playmate of the same name.

Wells, Charles

He is a minor character who appears both in Stephen Hero and in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. When Stephen first meets him in chapter 1 of A Portrai t, Wells is a bully at Clongowes Wood College. Wells embarrasses Stephen by asking the boy if he kisses his mother good night and then ridiculing the answer. The narrative also implies that Wells is responsible for the illness that sends Stephen to the infirmary because Wells was the one who had pushed Stephen into the square ditch (the cesspool behind the dormitory) and implores the young boy not to reveal that fact.

Analysis of James Joyce’s Dubliners

Bibliography Man Anderson, Chester G. “The Sacrificial Butter.” Accent 12 (1952): 3–13. Anderson, Chester G., ed. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: Text, Criticism, and Notes. New York: Viking, 1968. Andreach, Robert J. “James Joyce.” Studies in Structure: The Stages of the Spiritual Life of Four Modern Authors, 40–71. New York: Fordham University Press, 1964. Atherton, James S. Introduction and notes for A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, ix–xxii; 239–258. London: Heinemann, 1964. Beja, Morris, ed. James Joyce: Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: a Casebook. London: Macmillan, 1973. Bidwell, Bruce, and Linda Heffer. The Joycean Way. A Topographic Guide to Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1982. Brown, Homer Obed. James Joyce’s Early Fiction: The Biography of Form. Cleveland, Ohio: Case Western Reserve University, 1972. Burke, Kenneth. “Fact, Inference, and Proof in the Analysis of Literary Symbolism.” In Terms for Order, edited by Stanley Edgar Hyman, 145–172. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1964. Buttigieg, Joseph A. A Portrait of the Artist in Different Perspective. Athens: Ohio University Press, 1987. Connolly, Thomas E., ed. Joyce’s Portrait: Criticism and Critiques. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1962. Deane, Seamus, ed. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. New York: Penguin, 1992. Doherty, James. “Joyce and Hell Opened to Christians: The Edition He Used for His Hell Sermons.” Modern Philology 61 (1963): 110–119. Epstein, Edmund L. The Ordeal of Stephen Dedalus: The Conflict of the Generations in James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1971. Feehan, Joseph, ed. Dedalus on Crete: Essays on the Implications of Joyce’s Portrait. Los Angeles: St. Thomas More Guild, Immaculate Heart College 1957. Fortuna, Diane. “The Labyrinth as Controlling Image in Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.” Bulletin of the New York Public Library 76 (1972): 120–180. Gabler, Hans Walter. “The Seven Lost Years of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.” In Approaches to Joyce’s Portrait: Ten Essays, edited by Thomas F. Staley and Bernard Benstock, 25–60. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1976. ———. “The Christmas Dinner Scene, Parnell’s Death, and the Genesis of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.” James Joyce Quarterly 13 (1975): 27–38. Gifford, Don, and Robert J. Seidman. Joyce Annotated: Notes for Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man. 1967. 2d ed., Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London: University of California Press, 1982. Gottfried, Roy. Joyce’s Comic Portrait. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2000. Halper, Nathan. The Early James Joyce. New York: Columbia University Press, 1973. Hancock, Leslie. Word Index to James Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1967. Hardy, John Edward. “Joyce’s Portrait: The Flight of the Serpent.” In his Man in the Modern Novel, 67–81. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1964. Kenner, Hugh. “The Portrait in Perspective,” In James Joyce: Two Decades of Criticism, edited by Seon Givens, 132–174. 1948; New York: Vanguard Press, 1963. Kershner, R. B., ed. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: The Complete, Authoritative Text with Biographical and Historical Contexts, Critical History, and Essays from Five Contemporary Critical Perspectives. New York: Bedford Books of St. Martin’s Press, 1993. Morris, William E., and Clifford A. Nault, eds. Portraits of an Artist: A Casebook on James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. New York: Odyssey, 1962. “Portrait Issue.” James Joyce Quarterly 4 (Summer 1967): 249–356. Riquelme, John Paul. “Pretexts for Reading and for Writing: Title, Epigraph, and Journal in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.” James Joyce Quarterly 18 (Spring 1981): 301–321. Rossman, Charles. “Stephen Dedalus and the Spiritual- Heroic Refrigeration Apparatus: Art and Life in Joyce’s Portrait.” In Forms of Modern British Fiction, edited by Alan W. Friedman, 101–131. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1975. Ryf, Robert S. A New Approach to Joyce: The Portrait of the Artist as a Guide Book. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1962. Scholes, Robert. “Joyce and Epiphany: The Key to the Labyrinth.” Sewanee Review 72 (Winter 1964): 65–77. ———. “Stephen Dedalus: Poet or Esthete?” PMLA 79 (1964): 484–489. Scholes, Robert, and Richard M. Kain, eds. The Workshop of Daedalus: James Joyce and the Raw Materials for A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Evanston, Ill.: Northwestern University Press, 1965. Schorer, Mark. “Technique as Discovery.” Hudson Review 1 (1948): 67–87. Schutte, William M., ed. Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs, N J.: Prentice, Spectrum, 1968. Smith, John Bristow. Imagery and the Mind of Stephen Dedalus: A Computer-Assisted Study of Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Lewisburg, Pa.: Bucknell University Press, 1980.Staley, Thomas F., and Bernard Benstock, eds. Approach to Joyce’s Portrait: Ten Essays. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1976. Sucksmith, Harvey P. James Joyce: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. London: Arnold, 1973. Swisher, Claire, ed. Readings on A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven, 2000. Thornton, Weldon. The Antimodernism of Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press, 1994. Thrane, James R. “Joyce’s Sermon on Hell: Its Source and Its Background.” Modern Philology 57 (1960): 172–198. Van Laan, Thomas F. “The Meditative Structure of Joyce’s Portrait.” James Joyce Quarterly 1 (Spring 1964): 3–13. Source: Fargnoli, A. Nicholas. James Joyce. Carroll & Graf, 200 3

Share this:

Categories: Experimental Novels , Irish Literature , Literature , Novel Analysis

Tags: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man , A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Analysis , A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man as a Kunstlerroman , A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Characters , A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man essay , A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Guide , A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Notes , A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Summary , A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Themes , Analysis of James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man , Essay of James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man , James Joyce , Literary Criticism , Literary Theory , Modernism , Stephen Dedalus , Stephen Dedalus character study , Stephen Dedaulus , Stephen Hero

Related Articles

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Essay on Importance of Character

A man’s character is what he really is. It is his real moral condition. It has been defined as ‘the distinctive mark of an individual’ . It depends partly upon inborn qualities and partly on training in youth and the circumstances in which a person has been brought up.

It can be cultivated by forming good habits in childhood. “Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character” . If we sow good habits, we build up a good character.

If we allow bad habits to develop in us, our character becomes bad. It is therefore of great importance that children should be presented with the best models for imitation. Ideals of courage, truth, simplicity, honesty, and purity should be constantly placed before them to follow and live up to them.

We form good or bad habits not only in childhood but later on too. We all grow a little every day, either better or worse. It is, therefore, needs food that we watch ourselves day by day.

What goes to make up a good character? There are many qualities that go to make up the character. First comes truth. Lorde Averbury says, “But there is one quality it is essential without which a man is not a man without which no really great work was ever achieved-that is truth in the inward parts.”

Next comes justice. A man of good character should love to be out even-handed justice to all. But justice should be tempered with mercy. If it is our duty, to be frank, we ought to be sweet and courteous. Sincerity, honesty, generosity, and purity in speech thought and action- such virtues entitle a person to be called a man of good character.

The character is a very important factor in man’s life. Good character is more important than health wealth or happiness. “When the character, is lost everything is lost”  is hundred per cent true. “Leaving aside the moral good that it does, as a mere question of getting on in the world, the character will do more for a man then cleverness.”

We ought to be however slow to judge others for none of us is wholly good wholly bad.

Related Posts:

• Sweeney Among the Nightingales by T. S. Eliot Poem Summary Notes and Line by Line Explanation in English for Students
• A Grammarian's Funeral by Robert Browning Summary
• Random Idiom Generator
• Childhood Poem Summary by Markus Natten
• Random Phrase Generator [English]
• Goblin Market Poem by Christina Rossetti Summary, Notes and Line by Line Explanation in English

young  CHRISTIAN storytellers

How to write a male character (if you’re not).

I will now attempt to answer a cosmic question that has eluded even the best of authors for centuries.

Now, as a general rule, females are much better at writing males than males are at writing females. That said, there are some critical mistakes that I have noticed over the years when it comes to male characters written by females, and I would like to offer my assistance.

So here we go: How to (accurately) write a male character!

The male mind is much harder to write than you would think.

When I read a book with a male hero written by a woman, there are usually two diametric outcomes: either the hero acts and thinks exactly like a girl pretending to be a boy, or the hero is uncannily convincing and spot-on. It’s rarely middle ground.

The classic Revolutionary War novel Johnny Tremain is an excellent example of a female author, Esther Forbes, who absolutely nailed the male mind in her book. Even though Forbes still writes with a beautiful, distinctly feminine voice , she manages to make Johnny and all the other male characters believable and realistic. Forbes understood that she didn’t have to change her voice as a female author to accurately describe a male character.

On the other hand, I have also read other books where the main male character is just … off. He doesn’t act or think the way an actual male would. He’s either unnaturally moral, brave, selfless, and sacrificial … or woodenly selfish and crude without a human bone in his body.

So here are some tweaks to make your male character more realistic. Most of these will pertain to a protagonistic role, but they will help gain perspective on any male character.

Mistake #1 : Giving Him an Overly Protective Instinct

Solution: constrain most protective instincts to his subconscious.

Yes, boys are protective. But they’re hardly aware of it—and rarely think about it.

A common mistake I see in a female author’s book will be a description of the boy’s thoughts about how he will protect his sister, his mother, or his crush. It’s an attractive thought, one that is perfectly good, wholesome, and desirable.

But it’s not always realistic.

Let’s say you’re writing a scene where the hero needs to save a girl . To be realistic, do not write a single thought in his mind about how he would never forgive himself if anything happened to her, or how he can’t let this happen. Or, if you must, write it in a chopped, underlying way. He hasn’t the time.

When a man steps into a protective role, it is 90% instinctual. Men are action-driven, and most protective moments happen before they even think about it.

When a man steps into a protective role, it is 90% instinctual.

A man's mind gets put on hold while his training, his gut, his reflexes take complete control in an urgent situation. Write how he does it, not what he thinks while he does it. Minimal thoughts, mostly actions. Yes, he’s doing it out of love, ultimately, but that is not what is on his mind at this very second. His mind is wholly focused on how to save her, not why.

Of course there are exceptions. Sometimes those thoughts do go through a man's mind, and it's not wrong to write them as such. But it is hard to accomplish in a believable, relatable way.

Mistake #2 : Making Him Totally Selfless

Solution: make him mostly selfish, even when he acts selflessly.

This one will get me in trouble, but I have to address it.

Even if you're writing about the good guy, never mistake his selfless actions for selfless intentions. You’re writing about a man, not an angel. Your male character should at least notice what's in it for him.

Your male character should at least notice what's in it for him.

This applies to every male character, good or bad. It also works for females, of course, but you absolutely can't forget to address this for your male characters.

So whenever your hero does something, good or bad, mention why he’s doing it—and never make that reason just “because it’s the right thing to do.”

You'll just have to trust me on this one.

Now, I’m not saying males never do anything because it’s the right thing to do. In fact, good men have that single motivation all the time. But unless you live in a man’s mind for a couple of years, it’s nearly impossible to time that kind of motivation correctly.

In short: unless you're writing about Captain America, who literally does everything because it's the "right thing to do", give each male character some kind of incentive in what he does. Definitely let his conscience play a role, but try to tie each thing he does to a personal reason .

All right, painfully honest moment over. Let's move onto the next one:

Mistake #3 : Making Him Too Sensitive

Solution: give him a little arrogance.

Before you sharply disagree, let me clarify my point. Men can be and are sensitive—some more than others. There is absolutely nothing wrong with including sensitive males in your story.

But it’s challenging to execute the sensitive male correctly, which is really what I’m addressing here. It's just too easy to wander into sissy territory, and—unless your character actually is a bit of a wimp—it makes it harder for the reader to like him.

To automatically improve your male character’s believability, give him an air of confidence and indifference … a devil-may-care attitude. Or at least let him try . Even if he cares, odds are nine-to-one that he won’t show it. Guys often won’t show that they care unless it’s a fairly serious moment. And when they do show their truest feelings, it's probably a moment they'll remember for the rest of their life: a profession of love, an admittance of guilt, a recollection of a tender memory.

So if your character is a likable male, make him act confident, even if he’s putting it on. Even shy males will attempt to behave confidently, whether they know how to or not. It’s a natural tendency for a guy to act like he’s in control—this applies to any personality type. As always, there are exceptions … but they are exceptions .

Speaking of Sensitivity in Males …

Have your guy be a little clueless about the feelings of others (depending on his personality, of course). How others feel shouldn’t be on his mind very often. What others are thinking or planning, sure. But thoughts pondering what his friends are feeling should be spare and occasional.

As a general rule ( according to experts like Jordan Peterson ) men are more interested in things, while women are more interested in people. This naturally gives men a tendency to pay attention to how things work than how people work. Demonstrating this will instantly give your male characters a believable feel.

Make the moments when a male character tries to be sensitive awkward, because it will be a foreign area to him. For example, if he’s trying to figure out the way a girl feels about him, you probably shouldn’t let him get it right.

When your male character is being sensitive, here’s some tips:

Make his attempt a little rough around the edges

Include some humor (a common way for males to break the tension when things get touchy)

If he’s sharing his heart, make it REALLY difficult for him. No matter how in touch he is with his feelings, the words won’t always be on the tip of his tongue, even if he can hear them in his mind. It’s just how it is.

Let some of his words come out all wrong—when males try to be sensitive, many of their mental filters stop working; often they’ll say something rude or crude without realizing it, which can add fuel to the conflict in your story.

Although we’ve only scratched the surface, hopefully you find these tips helpful! Of course, there’s no wrong or right way to do this, and personal experiences will vary from person to person. If you want to learn more about writing male characters, I recommend reading this excellent article by Hannah Heath. It actually taught me a lot about writing male characters myself, even as a male author. I also found this amazing article on Wattpad to be a super helpful guide.

Did I miss your most burning question about male characterization? Let's chat in the comments!

Recent Posts

10 Ways to Get Your Teen Hero into the Action (Without Using Clichés)

Why You Should Set Crazy Writing Goals (Without Sacrificing Your Sanity)

Why Writers Are the Most Influential People in the World

25 Comments

I found this post at just the right time. After reading The Outsiders, I've been feeling a bit low about my own skills in writing male characters, and these tips are a big help. Also, great example with Johnny Tremain! I read that book every year and Esther Forbes' ability to write a character so different from herself blows me away every time.

I’m really glad this helped you!

First off, thank you soooooo much for making this article. I've been writing male character since I was less than ten because the other girls I wrote with never wanted to write guys. As a consequence, I have this LOVELY problem where I'm most likely to write them too protective and too sensitive. Currently, I'm writing the primary male character in a roleplay I'm doing with a girl, and this guy is literally an angel. 😂 A guardian angel to be precise. However, he's very much like a human. I lamely excuse his protectiveness and emotional thinking as him being an angel and therefore different than a human man, but I knew since I started writing him that I'm writing him way…

Love the conflict you've got going here and that you are being very conscious of how the characters relate to each other. You're on the right track.

It might come across a bit forced if you have Anahera blurt out all of his past emotions. And I'd argue this isn't just a male trait. If he's moving through the five stages of grief, he's moving past anger into the "bargaining" phase. Since the events can't be undone, this would probably look like him focusing on the "what-if" scenarios: what he should have done, what everyone else could have done, what could have gone differently.

BUT you're an author and you want the juicy stuff to come to light. You want…

At first, really thanks for writing this article!

It's so helpful when a man tell me how to make a male character!

But i have a question... I always write my male characters' reactions based on my brother, my boyfriend & my male friends

But when i want to challenge myself by writing a boyxboy relationship... Some of my friends that saw it, said that boys don't get worried about each other like this or don't talk about their day like this! And tell me this couple, both feel a bit like girl!

But my brother & boyfriend do it & talk to me...

So i don't why this time my make characters aren't acceptably believable...

May you guide me?!

*EDIT* Some of the most interesting male friendships are the ones that are unequal. The skinny intellectual befriending the big dumb warrior is so popular that it's a cliché … because it works . When you write a male friendship, look for their inequalities and see if they can build a relationship out of mutual respect for each other's different strengths. This can be a lot more interesting than two chess champions who have more of a rival relationship but no real differences. It can be much more fun to watch a mismatched pair: maybe a klutzy dude who is brilliant in the English language and his Mexican friend who speaks broken English but has a master's degree in mechanical engineering and is…

"Now, as a general rule, females are much better at writing males than males are at writing females."

[CITATION NEEDED]

Hey I got out of the citation by saying “general rule” 😂

But one citation would be the Bechdel test, which analyzes fiction written by men to see how realistically they wrote the female characters. The requirements to pass are low—you just need two female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man. And the overwhelming majority of male authors do not pass even that low of a hurdle.

I’m not an advocate of the Bechdel test as a carte-blanche way of criticizing fiction. Some of the best stories out there fail the test, especially books and films written for male audiences. But it definitely exposes how difficult it is to accurately portray the opposite sex…

Joshua Sword

I'm twenty-six and work as a livestream producer by day. I'm highly facetious. It's very hard to take me seriously, a fact that I carefully nurture and protect, because I don't want people calling me Mr. Josh and kissing my hand and handing me scotch or whatever they do in the serious world. I like my own world just fine.

Can I send you something?

Are your characters stuck? Download my quick guide,  The Character Generator , to create a motivated, conflicted character in  five minutes . Or all your money back. (Well, it's free. But you get the idea.)

What Makes a Man a Man?

Why the nature of manhood can be so precarious..

Posted May 10, 2011 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

Research by Jennifer Bosson, Joseph Vandello (both psychology professors at the University of South Florida) and their colleagues has tested the role of threatening men's masculinity in aggression .

According to these researchers, men's masculinity is something that is elusive (it must be earned) and tenuous (it must continually be proven). Put differently, men can easily lose their sense of masculinity and, in turn, when it is challenged, they respond to restore it. One prominent way males try to restore their masculinity is through aggression.

So how do these researchers challenge men's masculinity?

Some studies have had men complete a bogus test of "male knowledge." They are then either given positive or negative feedback (which would be the masculinity challenge) about how well they did. Other studies have had men tie either a rope or braid hair (the masculinity threat), while others have had them use feminine smelling hand lotion.

In response to these masculinity-threatening tasks, men show heightened anxiety and thoughts of aggression. Interestingly, they also behave more aggressively, such as by choosing to hit a punching bag when given the option of that or a basketball task. Men who choose the punching task also punch harder and more often when their perceived masculinity is threatened. Further, such displays of aggression, when made public, have been found to reduce the anxiety men feel when doing these (perceived as) feminine tasks.

Interestingly, if men can affirm their masculinity (e.g., by saying "I am not gay") prior to being threatened, they do not display increased aggression.

These same experiments (well many of them) did not find similar results for women.

A basic hope behind this research is that by making men more comfortable and secure with their masculinity, aggression could be reduced. After all, if the causes of aggression are not uncovered, aggression will never be alleviated.

Stepping away from aggression, men perhaps in many cases don't do things they would otherwise enjoy for fear of being perceived as feminine. So, again, if ways can be found (excluding aggression) to solidify men's perceived masculinity, perhaps males can be "freed" psychologically to enjoy these things.

Or at the very least, maybe we can reach a point as a society where men don't feel weird holding their girlfriend or wife's purse.

See here if you're interested in an article that reviews all of this research in detail.

Nathan Heflick, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Teletherapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.

• Coronavirus Disease 2019
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

10 Marvel Characters Tom Cruise Would Be Perfect For After Losing Iron Man Role 18 Years Ago

• Tom Cruise could excel as Corsair in the MCU, a character tied to mutants and the cosmic side of Marvel.
• Cruise is the perfect for Superior Iron Man, an evil version of Tony Stark.
• Cruise could play a significant role as a hero or villain in the Multiverse Saga, showcasing his versatility.

Tom Cruise might not have played Iron Man; however, there are a few roles that could allow the actor to show the full scope of his talents in the Marvel Cinematic Universe . Cruise has a history with Marvel despite never having played one of its characters. The actor was considered to play Tony Stark before 2008's Iron Man , with Cruise not playing Iron Man because of a pay issue , as 20th Century Fox — the studio who held Iron Man's film rights in 1998 — was not willing to pay his hefty salary for " an untested superhero property ."

In 2006, Robert Downey Jr. was officially cast as Iron Man, ending Tom Cruise's chances of playing the hero in his solo movie.

Cruise was still among the actors who could have played the role in Marvel Studios' Iron Man , though the role ultimately went to Robert Downey Jr. , who was part of most of the best entries in the MCU as Tony Stark. Cruise was also heavily rumored to play an Iron Man variant thanks to the multiverse in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness , which did not end up happening. While the actor has yet to join the MCU, there are many different roles in Marvel's slate of projects that are perfectly suited for Cruise.

10 Best Tom Cruise Movies, Ranked

The character is the father of a major x-men member.

While Cruise is often mentioned for major MCU roles, there could be a lot of fun to be had through the actor playing a smaller character who could let him truly cut loose. Among some possible future additions to the franchise is Corsair. The character is the father to none other than one of the X-Men's most famous members — and the team's field leader — Cyclops .

Corsair would be a fantastic addition to the MCU because he could connect with both the introduction of mutants to the franchise and help expand the MCU's cosmic corner. The character is the leader of the Starjammers , a team of space pirates. Like Cruise's Top Gun character, Maverick, Corsair is an ace pilot. The character is also adept at hand-to-hand fights, something Cruise has excelled in within a wide array of his action movie roles.

Silver Surfer

Tom cruise could make the character compelling.

Silver Surfer is rumored to show up in the MCU soon . While there have been few details revealed about the plot of Marvel's The Fantastic Four , one of the main rumors surrounding the movie is that it will not feature Doctor Doom as its main villain, but rather Galactus. If that is true, then the Silver Surfer's appearance is a strong possibility, as he is the most famous herald of Galactus.

Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer, is a character with an extremely tragic backstory . The character's story is one of loss, with both his mother and father having killed themselves for different reasons. In exchange for Galactus sparing his home world, Norrin Radd agreed to become his herald and was transformed into the Silver Surfer. Cruise has the dramatic chops to bring such a heartbreaking story to life on the big screen.

The Actor Might Have To Compete With Another Major Star

Different from most of the characters on the list, a Nova project is in development for the MCU . Nova will get to star in his own series if the project moves forward, though the slowdown of the MCU might mean that a definitive answer to that is still some time away. While confirming that Nova is in development, Marvel Studios' Head of Television, Streaming, and Animation, Brad Winderbaum teased which version of the hero will appear, saying, " I love Rich Rider, too ."

Ryan Gosling is heavily rumored to be the MCU's pick to play Nova.

Cruise would be a great pick for an older Richard Rider in the MCU . As there is a younger version of Nova in the comics — Sam Alexander — there is a chance that the MCU will move forward with both iterations of the hero at the same time. Cruise could then play the charming, confident leader that is Richard Rider, while a younger actor plays Sam.

We Already All Know The Perfect Casting For The MCU's Long-Awaited Nova

The beyonder, kang the conqueror could be replaced in the mcu.

With Jonathan Majors fired from the MCU as Kang the Conqueror , the Multiverse Saga does not currently have a main villain . Some options of characters who could replace Kang have been thrown around. Doctor Doom was even rumored to have been on Marvel's radar to replace Kang after Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania underperformed. However, another Marvel Comics villain could be perfect both as a replacement for Kang and as the ideal role for Cruise to join the MCU.

As one of the most popular movie stars ever, Cruise is likely to have a major role in the franchise if he ever joins the MCU . The Beyonder could be that part, as Cruise could become integral to the Multiverse Saga while not having to sign on for several projects. The character could be the main villain of Avengers: Secret Wars , with his unpredictable nature being something Cruise has shown in previous roles that he is able to bring to life perfectly.

Multiple Man

The actor would be perfect to play multiple versions of the same character.

Jamie Madrox, aka Multiple Man, would be one of the most exciting roles Cruise could play in the MCU. While the character is not one of the most popular mutants from Marvel Comics, Multiple Man has the potential to be a fan-favorite character in live-action. As his name states, Multiple Man can create several duplicates of himself .

While the duplicates look exactly like him, each version of Multiple Man is their own person in a way, having their individual thoughts, feelings, and more . Every new duplicate of Madrox also normally follows one aspect of the original character's personality, heightening different parts of Madrox. Cruise could have a great time in the role, which would allow him to play multiple MCU characters within just one mutant. This way, he could serve as a hero or a villain, depending on which version of Multiple Man is in play.

James Franco was once attached to star in a Multiple Man movie , though the project would be canceled.

The Actor Can Make The Villain A Sympathetic Foe

While Cruise is normally known to play heroic roles , such as Ethan Hunt in the Mission Impossible franchise or Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in the Top Gun movies, the actor has great potential for villain roles. Through projects like Interview with the Vampire and Collateral , Cruise showed that he has an intensity within him to play magnetic evil characters on the big screen.

That particular set of skills allied to Cruise's long career as a bona fide hero makes him a compelling choice to give life to Magneto in the MCU. Magneto comes from a tragic backstory that serves to inform how he will never let the mutants suffer from what he went through during the Holocaust. Cruise could excel at the tenuous line the character threads between a villain and an anti-hero at times, making Magneto one of the MCU's most complex characters.

Doctor Doom

Tom cruise is extremely skilled in a must-have aspect for the character.

Doctor Doom is one of the MCU's most anticipated characters . The villain could potentially even take Kang the Conqueror's place and become the main threat of the Multiverse Saga now that Jonathan Majors has been fired by Marvel. Given Doom's prominent role in different versions of the story that will be adapted in Avengers: Secret Wars , the character's MCU debut should be watched closely, as he could become a foe to all heroes sooner rather than later.

With Marvel's The Fantastic Four set to arrive in 2025, Doctor Doom should join the MCU next year. As the team's most famous villain and the one who has appeared in all movies for the Fantastic Four , it is hard to imagine Victor von Doom not having at least a cameo. Cruise's experience with intelligent, dark characters and ability to convey emotion with his body language is perfect for the masked villain.

Norman Osborn

The actor could play both sides of the character.

Norman Osborn is one of the most popular villains in Marvel Comics . Thanks to Willem Dafoe's genius performances as Norman and his Green Goblin side, the character has also become one of the best live-action villains Marvel has ever had, both in the MCU and not. While Dafoe appeared as his version of Osborn in a major way in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the character hailed from the universe of Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man.

The MCU has yet to cast actors for its versions of Harry and Norman Osborn. Cruise could excel in the role, with the actor being able to play both the suave businessman and his deranged alter ego with ease. If Marvel Studios ever uses Norman Osborn again, he could be turned into his Iron Patriot hero persona from the comics to differentiate the MCU's Osborn from Dafoe , and Cruise would also be a great fit for a heroic Norman Osborn, as his career shows.

Mister Sinister

The character is on marvel studios' radar.

Magneto, Apocalypse, and other recognizable X-Men villains have already appeared in the team's live-action movies. With the MCU set to debut its version of the beloved mutants from Marvel Comics in the future, it would make sense for the shared universe to focus on villains who have not yet had their time to shine in live-action. Based on that, Mister Terrific could have his time to shine in the MCU .

Cruise would excel as the character who is unabashedly evil and delights in his nefarious actions . The actor could really cut loose as Mister Sinister in a way that his heroic roles have not really let him. Marvel Studios has Mister Sinister on its radar, as the villain recently showed up in a major way in the first project for the X-Men produced by Marvel Studios — but not part of the MCU — the animated X-Men '97 .

Marvel Just Proved How Incredible An X-Men Villain Can Be In The MCU 38 Years After His Debut

Superior iron man, tom cruise would still be great as tony stark.

Finally, the best character Cruise could play in the MCU is a variant of RDJ's Tony Stark , with Cruise being perfect for Superior Iron Man. The character would allow Cruise to come full circle after the actor almost played the MCU hero long ago. Superior Iron Man is also the specific variant of the character that Cruise was rumored to play in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness but never did. Cruise playing the Tony Stark variant would finally make good on the potential he has for Superior Iron Man.

In the comics, that version of Tony Stark is not a hero like the main version of the character. Superior Iron Man is a villain who was created during the "Axis" event in the comics, which switched the character's morality from good to evil, allowing him to pretend to be a hero before showing himself as a major villain. Tom Cruise 's Superior Iron Man would retain the best parts of RDJ's and add that intensity the actor is known for to become an MCU villain for the ages.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount's Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.

Key Release Dates

Deadpool & wolverine, marvel's thunderbolts, marvel's fantastic four, blade (2025), avengers: the kang dynasty, avengers: secret wars.

Screen Rant

Monkey man ending explained: what happens to kid.

Monkey Man has an explosive ending that sees Dev Patel attempting to achieve his revenge. We break down the biggest moments from the film's ending.

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Monkey Man

• Dev Patel's directorial debut, Monkey Man , has been praised for its action, reminiscent of John Wick .
• The ambiguous ending leaves Kid's fate uncertain after defeating his enemies.
• Monkey Man 's social commentary explores corruption in religious and political figures.

Monkey Man , Dev Patel’s feature directorial debut, ends with Kid having accomplished his biggest goal. Monkey Man’s reviews have raved about the first-time filmmaker’s actioner, which recalls movies like John Wick and The Raid , among others. By the film’s end, Patel’s unnamed character, credited only as Kid, has sought his revenge on Rana Singh, the man who killed his mother and aided the religious figure Baba Shakti in destroying homes and stealing land.

With the help of the hijra, a group of intersex and transgender women, Kid fights his way through Queenie’s high-end club and brothel, taking out everyone who gets in his way. Kid, a man of little dialogue, finally faces Rana with the acknowledgment of what the police chief had done to Kid’s mother. The two fight each other, with Rana viciously beating Kid, though the latter comes out on top. Kid beats Rana until he’s dead before going after Baba Shakti, who tries to unsuccessfully flee. After gruesome combat, Kid kills Baba Shakti before passing out from his own wounds .

Where To Watch Monkey Man: Showtimes & Streaming Status

Does dev patel’s kid die at the end of monkey man, kid falls to the ground after being stabbed by baba shakti.

Monkey Man’s ending sees Kid falling to the ground after killing Baba Shakti, who had stabbed Kid, though he held out until the very end. However, while Kid falls, allegedly dying from his stab wound, Monkey Man doesn’t show him on the ground as the film shifts to a flashback of his mother. This could be Kid’s final memory as he dies from his wounds, but the fact that Patel avoids confirming Kid’s death suggests the fighter is still alive. It’s possible Sita and the hijra will find him before the authorities do, bringing him back to safety to recuperate .

Patel leaves the ending as ambiguous as ever, as the audience ponders whether or not Kid is really dead.

On the other hand, Kid’s death would make sense within the scope of Monkey Man’s story. After all, Kid had spent the majority of his life seeking revenge and he’d finally gotten it. With his mission over, and both Rana Singh and Baba Shakti dead, Kid could finally rest in peace knowing he’d accomplished his goal. Patel leaves the ending as ambiguous as ever, as the audience ponders whether or not Kid is really dead. With the evidence laid out, and with how strong Kid became by the end, it’s likely the underdog survived even the greatest injury .

Baba Shakti’s Death & Its Impact Explained

The guru had political connections and power that will be affected.

Baba Shakti wielded a lot of power, and before his death he was imploring his followers to vote for a political leader he was aligned with. Baba Shakti’s death will certainly shake things up — in both the political and religious sphere. It’s a disruption to the status quo and the religious figure had plenty of powerful connections that will be affected, and even perhaps dissolved, because of his death.

What’s more, Baba Shakti’s death signals to other political and religious figures in power that they’re not safe from Kid’s wrath , or from the power of the people when they rise up against them together. Other members of the elite will likely be shaken that someone could get close enough to kill them, and they will probably be uneasy for a long time to come. Baba Shakti’s death is also a statement, a pivotal turning point in dismantling the systems of power and corruption that shaped Kid’s life and that keep underserved communities on the lowest rungs of the ladder.

Why Sita Finally Fights Back Against Rana & Helps Kid

Sita finally breaks free from queenie’s cruelty during monkey man’s ending.

Sita is a sex worker Kid meets while working at Queenie’s underground club. Unlike Kid, Sita doesn’t think there’s any point in fighting and has accepted her lot in life despite the abuse and mistreatment she endures. But by the end of Monkey Man , Sita, who is described as “ tender on the inside ” by actress Sobhita Dulipala , has a change of heart. Sita is someone who had given into the hopelessness of her situation, but watching Kid fight and lose, yet return to finish the job despite the powerful figures against him, returned some of her hope.

So, Sita not only fought back against Rana and Queenie, but joining Kid in battle saw her finally breaking free from the control Queenie had on her , as well as the cruelty she suffered through day in and day out. Sita finally took action, shedding aside the fear and internal grief that had gripped her for so long. She had found a way out thanks to Kid’s actions, and seeing the hijra fight alongside him also helped her see the power of the disenfranchised against the elite.

Comparing Monkey Man’s Ending To The Legend Of Hanuman

Dev patel’s movie is inspired by the hindu deity.

Monkey Man is heavily influenced by the legend of Hanuman, a god who is half-human, half-monkey and who helps Prince Rama save his wife Sita. At the end of the tale, Hanuman is killed after attempting to take the sun from the sky, not knowing what it actually was, with the god Indra striking him down and breaking Hanuman’s jaw in the process. This is similar to Patel’s character, who is taken down by a powerful religious figure after being stabbed. However, Hanuman is revived by Shiva, after Hanuman’s father Vayu left the world with no air (via Durham University ).

Just as Kid, who was near death after his first fight, was saved by the hijra, it’s possible they — along with Sita — will revive him following his fight with Baba Shakti. No matter the trials and tribulations, Hanuman never truly dies for good, and the same might be said of Dev Patel’s character , who overcomes a number of obstacles and who is devoted to his cause and strengthened by those around him, giving him hope. There’s hope that Monkey Man’s conclusion, as in Hanuman’s tale, isn’t the end of Kid, and that he will return because his punishment wasn’t just.

How Monkey Man’s Ending Sets Up A Sequel

Kid may not be dead and could go for round 2.

Monkey Man concludes on an ambiguous note. Kid is badly injured and it’s possible he could have died from the stab wound, but there’s also hope that he will once again be revived. Considering Kid’s death isn’t entirely confirmed, it’s possible he will survive to see another day, building up his strength once more to go after other powerful figures who have exploited the people. A Monkey Man sequel would have to figure out a way for Kid to move around without being caught, since his face was plastered all over the news.

A Monkey Man sequel has not been confirmed, and it'll depend on how the action movie does at the box office.

Killing a powerful figure like Baba Shakti makes him the most wanted man in all of India. A sequel could explore what Kid’s life looks like if he’s living in hiding or on the run. He was previously operating under the radar, but if Kid does indeed find another powerful figure to go after, even if it’s not for personal revenge, he would have to come up with new ways to infiltrate the world of the elites. A Monkey Man sequel would be interesting for that alone and could capitalize on Kid’s new situation, as well as his next mission.

The Real Meaning Of Monkey Man’s Ending

Monkey man brings real-world politics into its social commentary.

Monkey Man’s ending is rooted in real-world social commentary. The film’s conclusion shows the corruption of religious figures and how amassing power harms the very communities they allege to serve. Monkey Man’s finale also showcases how religious figures like Baba Shakti utilize their positions to align with political leaders to sway elections that further create wealth and power disparities. Monkey Man ’s social commentary is very much about the power of the people and how, when they work together toward dismantling systems of oppression, they are stronger and more capable than political and religious figures believe them to be .

Monkey Man is a 2024 action-thriller film directed by and starring Dev Patel. Following his release from prison, a man known as "Kid" makes a living by engaging in anonymous underground fights in a mask where he is beaten down each night. However, after witnessing greed and corruption consuming his city, Kid breaks into the upper echelon of society to find those who destroyed his life and take them down.