Abstract
E. L. Doctorow's novel-memoir World's Fair (1985), is influenced by James Joyce's semi-autobiographical novel, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1917). Both novels portray the normal life of their protagonists before they choose an artistic life. One of the similarities of the two novels is the frequent use of wet/dry imagery and its relation to water imagery. In each novel the images of wetness and water, are developed uniquely to prepare their protagonists for their moments of revelation and lead them towards an artistic life. This article seeks to prove that although World's Fair is influenced by the Portrait, in each of these novels wetness and water imagery serves a different purpose. While both Stephan and Edgar make a decision by the end of the novel, each one represents a different kind of artist from the other one. Thus, the different patterns with which the water imagery is represented throughout their plots, serve as a means to lead their protagonists to their separate personal revelations.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
