The end is a new beginning

          Yesterday in class we were talking about the ending of The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Stephen decides to "exile himself" from Ireland, and pursue a career of artistry (not the best way to put it because the word career seems to have a focus on making a living, while Stephen is doing it solely for the art, however I'm not sure how else to phrase it). However, Stephen never fully explains his decision to leave. I'm usually not one to enjoy ambiguous endings. Sure, I can make up what happens, but I'll never know for sure if it's accurate. I like to know what happens to the characters that I've become so close with. But in Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, I think it works that Stephen's actions aren't fully explained. It makes him seem more complex and mysterious, which goes with the entire theme of his becoming an artist. And, speculating on his motives gives you a lot more to think about (even though the novel as a whole already provides a plethora of thinking material).
          I commented in class that one of the reasons Stephen left was to get out of or escape his memories, and I want to discuss that a little more. If you're in the same place where you've spent you whole life (I have personal experience with this having never lived anywhere outside of Chambana), then you're kind of stuck in your memories. You see the same buildings, the same houses, the same people every day. Each familiar person, place, or thing is weighted with memories that you are constantly reminded of when you see them. It definitely ties you down and makes it impossible for any kind of fresh start which is kind of what Stephen is looking for. He needs to be taken out of that familiar environment, and remove himself from his homeland so that he gets a new perspective on his life and has an objective view of his past. This new view will allow him to better use his past experiences for his art.