Opposing Ideals in James Joyces A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man :: Portrait Artist Young Man Essays

Opposing Ideals in James Joyces A depicting of the Artist as a Young ManStephen Dedalus, of James Joyces A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, is constantly torn by deuce opposing ideals. One is that which the institution of the Irish Catholic Church imposes on him, and the other is take a firm standed upon by his independent thoughts and feelings. Stephen chooses between these two ideals, and he rejects the religion offered him by his upbringing and early education in favour of individualistic thought. The most obvious aspect of these opposing ideals is in Stephen Dedaluss differentiate. His first name, rooted in religion, is that of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. His last name comes from the pagan and Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus. The myth of Daedalus centres on the theme of freedom, which coincides with Stephens tour of self-discovery. However, is he Daedalus, the great architect and inventor, or is he Daedaluss prideful and refractory son Icarus? Certainly, St ephen embodies aspects of both mythological figures. He is both the intellectual Daedalus, and the rebel Icarus. From the very beginning, the two names atomic number 18 separate from one another. Stephens parents turn to him Stephen - Goodbye, Stephen, goodbye (5). This is ironic as sending Stephen to the convent exposes him further to the hypocrisy that he will see in the priests at the convent and in Catholicism as a whole. Thus, they are saying goodbye to Stephen, the name rooted in religious tradition as he will become Dedalus, the adult male who seeks his own freedom. On the other hand, Stephens classmates call him Dedalus. Stephen is not one of them. Stephen is practice aside as intellectual and moral - Dedalus is a model youth. He doesnt smoke and he doesnt go to bazaars and he doesnt flirt and he doesnt diabolical anything or damn all (71). Indeed, Dedalus is not one of the hypocrites. He is tagged as a heretic as he refuses to conform to ideals which are not his own (76). At first, he merely defends poets (i.e. Byron), but presently he is defending his entire way of life and his views thereof. Dedalus is the individual. Stephens childhood in the convent and with his family is shaped around conformity. Phrases such as Pull out his look / Apologise / Apologise / Pull out his eyes continually insist on the strict code of behaviour that Stephen is expected to uphold (4).