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Religion And Its Effect On Stephen Dedalus - Research Paper

Religion And Its Effect On Stephen Dedalus



Religion is an important and recurring theme in James Joyce's A
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Through his experiences with
religion, Stephen Dedalus both matures and progressively becomes more
individualistic as he grows. Though reared in a Catholic school, several
key events lead Stephen to throw off the yoke of conformity and choose his
own life, the life of an artist.
Religion is central to the life of Stephen Dedalus the child. He
was reared in a strict, if not harmonious, Catholic family. The severity of
his parents, trying to raise him to be a good Catholic man, is evidenced by
statements such as, "Pull out his eyes/ Apologise/ Apologise/ Pull out his
eyes." This strict ...

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One, Stephen's individualism and lack of tolerance for
disrespect become evident when he complains to the rector about the actions
of Father Dolan. His confused attitude is clearly displayed by the end of
the chapter when he says, "He was happy and free: but he would not be
anyway proud with Father Dolan. He would be very kind and obedient: and he
wished that he could do something kind for him to show him that he was not
proud." Stephen still has respect for his priests, but he has lost his
blind sense of acceptance.
As Stephen grows, he slowly but inexorably distances himself from
religion. His life becomes one concerned with pleasing his friends and
family. However, as he matures he begins to feel lost and hopeless, stating,
"He saw clearly too his own futile isolation. He had not gone one step
nearer the lives he had sought to approach nor bridged the restless shame
and rancor that divided him from mother and brother and sister." It is this
very sense of isolation and ...

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Religion And Its Effect On Stephen Dedalus. (2007, January 7). Retrieved April 16, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Religion-And-Its-Effect-Stephen-Dedalus/58344
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PAPER DETAILS
Added: 1/7/2007 07:53:38 PM
Category: Book Reports
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1177
Pages: 5

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