Irony and Artistic Chronotope in James Joyce’s Narrative

Abstract

This article examines the chronotopic manifestation of irony in James Joyce’s novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and its artistic function in the narrative structure. The study is based on Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of the artistic chronotope, which explains the relationship between time and space in literary texts. Particular attention is paid to the development of the protagonist Stephen Dedalus, his inner world, and his intellectual and psychological growth within the social environment. The analysis demonstrates how irony functions as an important narrative device revealing the contradictions between individual consciousness and social norms. Through psychological analysis, the article explores the dynamics of Stephen’s thoughts, emotions, and personal identity. The ironic chronotope is interpreted as a literary mechanism that highlights the moral, cultural, and philosophical conflicts of the era. Furthermore, the research discusses autobiographical elements in Joyce’s writing and the synthesis of philosophical reflection, psychological analysis, and temporal structure in his works. The article also considers the influence of Joyce’s narrative methods on modern literary traditions and on Uzbek prose, particularly in the works of the writer Xurshid Do‘stmuhammad. The findings show that the chronotope of irony plays a crucial role in revealing the protagonist’s intellectual development and in shaping the broader philosophical meaning of the narrative.