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 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 sense of acceptance.
             As Stephen grows, he slowly but inexorably distances himself from
             religion. His life becomes one concerned with pleasing his friends and
             fam...