From the Bookshelf of Reading the Classics…

It wasn't until he found a wealthy benefactor that he was able to live the life of the creative writer, which he seems to have done without ethical qualms.

It is apparent, from photographic portrait of Joyce, that he rather fancied himself the literary sophisticate. The images are typically overly posed and affected. For a man living on the handouts of another, one might think Joyce would have wished to project a more sincere, modest and grateful countenance. However, perhaps he needed to inflate his ego for fear of revealing a fragile self-esteem.

He felt claustrophobic in Dublin because of the type of personality he happened to possess, so his decision to leave was necessary.

Another indication that literature did not come easily to Joyce is his economy of dialogue in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Dialogue is a difficult thing to master for those who are not naturally given to it. It requires close observation of character in choice of word and phrase...." And a few lines later: "It's a curious thing, but nowadays Joyce is celebrated as an important literary genius and influence..."