“A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” is novel that novel that tells the story of its protagonist Stephen Dedalus, his childhood, adolescence and maturation in Ireland in the late nineteenth century.
Joyce’s novel is mainly concerned with presenting Stephen’s conflict in regards to religion. James Joyce was raised Roman Catholic but strayed away from his religious roots and novel “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” is aimed at seeing through the eyes of Stephen how he views the world of politics, history, religion and society.
The novel ends after Stephen listens to a discussion between his friend Cranly and an Englishman about the philosophy of Immanuel Kant. While this discussion had no immediate impact on Stephen’s life it does mark a shift in his attitude towards morality – specifically, religion. This novel also shows us that religion can be repressive because it forces people to follow rules even if they are not sure why they are doing what they are doing.
The novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, by James Joyce, begins with its protagonist and narrator (Stephen Dedalus) as a young boy living at home with his parents in Ireland. His mother, a devout Catholic woman describes Stephen’s first confession to the priest: “He was not yet quite eight years old when he confessed one day after breakfast that he had broken the commandment which says Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy god in vain” (1).
This novel is significant because it captures Joyce’s rejection of religious ideology; something that plays an important role throughout his life and work. Often viewed as a novel about nationalism, A Portrait of the Artist depicts themes such as: questioning and resisting authority, the rejection of Catholic morals and ideology, and the idea that in order to be an artist one must sever ties with their nation.
While Joyce does portray these themes in his novel it is only a fraction of what this novel truly represents; he reveals how Catholicism can be viewed as repressive through Stephen’s condemnation of his mother’s belief system (a belief system which forms the basis for her life). Joyce presents Stephen as someone who is acutely aware of his surroundings; he is lighthearted but serious simultaneously. He purposefully shows Stephen refusing to attend mass on Easter Sunday because he knows it will upset his mother (he hides behind a pillar until she leaves) (192-3).
She says “Do not look at me, Stephen. I have cried too much. I will forgive you again” (193). But she has gone to church alone because her son has rejected religion; he is not with her when she needs support most (he chose his own affirmation over the comfort of his mother). Joyce further displays this rejection in Stephen’s thoughts on confession. It is here that we see him rebel against Catholicism; in fact, one might even say that the novel begins with an act of defiance (this novel spans multiple decades so it would be hard to point out what exact event started the novel).
I make my first act of freedom [at confession]. I shake the dust from my feet and leave the chapel” (4). This metaphor represents his rejection of the church and his leaving it to start a new life, one that is based on individualism rather than religion. Further religious references are seen when Stephen declares himself an atheist to his family. He knows this will upset them because they are devout Catholics; he continually flaunts his faithlessness in order to defy their belief system. “A boy got up in front of him [at school].
He felt dizzy suddenly as he looked at the whorls of pale reddish dust which the other had left on the floor” (74). Joyce uses literary devices such as foreshadowing and imagery here to hint at things that will come later in the novel; for example, this scene is also significant because Stephen is the only one who can see into his own future. Joyce reinforces Stephen’s realizations that religion is repressive through his novel Ulysses , which also focuses on Dublin life at the turn of the twentieth century.
In this novel religious figures such as nuns and priests are often depicted as sexual beings; for example, a virgin named “Eileen” is described as a woman instead of a girl because she has a “ripening breast” (45). This novel also makes reference to Adam and Eve, two biblical figures whose story entails sex outside of wedlock. Joyce shows how Catholicism was not only oppressive but hypocritical as well. As an adult Stephen moves to Europe where he starts to notice that people around him live the way they want to instead of ceasing their actions because of religious beliefs.
He sees a man and woman embracing and kissing and he thinks that this is “the most beautiful thing he had ever seen” (350). At this point in his life Stephen feels free; he no longer cares what others think about him. He has become an artist who no longer views religion as repressive but rather as something separate from society. Joyce’s novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is significant because it shows how religion, particularly Catholicism, can be viewed as repressive.
Through Stephen, we see all of these different ways that religion limits people’s lives–such as on a social level, by not allowing them to explore sexuality or individuality. Stephen himself comes to realize that religion is not an accurate representation of life; he realizes through his novel Ulysses that people act based on how they want to rather than because of religious beliefs. It is only when he leaves the restrictive social norms of Dublin does Stephen truly become free and live his own life, without fear of guilt or retribution from organized religion.
