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 conformity shapes Stephen's life early in

boarding school. Even as he is following the precepts of his Catholic

school, however, a disillusionment becomes evident in his thoughts. The

priests, originally above criticism or doubt in Stephen's mind, become

symbols of intolerance. Chief to these thoughts is Father Dolan, whose

statements such as, "Lazy little schemer. I see schemer in your face,"

exemplify the type of attitude Stephen begins to associate with his

Catholic teachers. By the end of Chapter

which Stephen exhibits in the final chapter. Religion is the last thing

trying to make for himself. He is surrounding himself with beautiful

for him to show him that he was not proud." Stephen still has respect

sister." It is this very sense of isolation and loneliness that leads to

woman and the knowledge that, as a priest, he could not even talk to

collar would be too tight for him to wear. A walk on the beach confirms

be very kind and obedient: and he wished that he could do something kind

As Stephen grows, he slowly but inexorably distances himself from

While Stephen eventually turns away from religion, it is an important

from the woman also symbolizes his run from religion and restriction, a

for his priests, but he has lost his blind sense of acceptance.

and become an artist. Religion disturbs, shapes, and finally changes

company of the dean of studies?" Stephen's bitterly sarcastic

represents the turning point of the novel, for here Stephen turns his

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1072
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)