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 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
             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 c...