Religion, besides the practical need for food and shelter is one of the most powerful drives in Stephen's life. Religion serves as Stephen's guidance and saviour yet it is also responsible for his tormented youth and distracting him from his artistic development. As a child growing up in a strict Catholic family, Stephen is raised to be a good Catholic boy who will follow the teaching of Catholism as his guidance in his life. The severity of his family is shown when his mother tells him either to "apologise" (4) or "the eagles will come and pull out his eyes" (4). Stephen is taught by his mother to be tolerant when she "[tells] him not to speak with the rough boys in the college" (5). Similarly, Stephen's father also taught him a Catholic quality by telling Stephen "ne

ileen [is] a girl"(43). Furthermore, he associates Eileen's characteristics such as "long thin cool white hands"(43), and "fair hair"(43) to those of the "Blessed Virgin"(35). Continuously, sexuality promotes Stephen's artistic development by inspiring him to imagine beyond the realistic world. Yet, this development is limited by his Catholic view of woman. From reading "The Count of Monte Cristo" (64), Stephen begins to imagine the female figure Mercedes as his savior who will "[transfigure]" (67) him and rescue him from his plain life by offering "a long train of adventures" (65). Stephen begins to exhibit the characteristics of an artist when he begins to imagine. However, his imagination is limited by his religious beliefs as he associates the characteristics of Mercedes with those of the "Blessed Virgin" (35). Stephen's encounter with Emma inspires him to create a poem based on their romantic encounter. However, this encounter turns into a moral dilemma when his religious!

defence the only arms [he] allow [himself] to use - silence, exile, and cunning" (226-269). By discussing how education affects Stephen from a child to a young man, Joyce has shown the reader Stephen's development as an artist and human being.

ver to peach on a fellow' (6). Evidence of Stephen following the "never to peach" (6) quality is shown when Stephen agrees not to tell on Wells for pushing him into a ditch. However, as Stephen matures into his a!

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n's later departure to Europe. It is at dinner table that Stephen quietly observes and learns "what politics [mean]" (14). From the argument between Stephen's father, Mr. Casey, and Dante over the "Parnell and Catholic church" incident, Stephen learns politics when he claims:

They were arguing at home about that. That was called politics. There were two sides in it: Dante was on one side and his father and Mr. Casey were on the other side but his mother and uncle Charles were on no side. Every day there was something in the paper about it. It pained him that he did not know well what politics meant... (13-14)

beliefs of women clash with his growing sexual urge. Catholism makes Stephen believes that women are holy and are not to be defiled.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Blessed Virgin, James Joyce, Furthermore Stephen's, Finally Stephen's, Parnell Catholic, Evidence Stephen, Mozambique Channel, Stephen Eileen, Furthermore Stephen, Monte Cristo, artistic development, stephen's life, religion sexuality, religious beliefs, stephen raised, education stephen, portrait artist, stephen grows, childhood adolescence, joyce shown reader, informal education, religion sexuality education, blessed virgin 35, sexuality education stephen, stephen's life religion,
Approximate Word count = 1525
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)