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 depiction of the Artist as a Young ManStephen Dedalus, of James Joyces A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, is constantly torn by two opposing ideals. One is that which the institution of the Irish Catholic Church imposes on him, and the other is insisted 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 near obvious aspect of these opposing ideals is in Stephen Dedaluss name. His first name, rooted in religion, is that of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. His last name comes from the pagan and Greek legend of Daedalus and Icarus. The myth of Daedalus centres on the theme of freedom, which coincides with Stephens journey of self-discovery. However, is he Daedalus, the great architect and inventor, or is he Daedaluss prideful and rebellious son Icarus? Certainly, Stephen embodies aspec ts of some(prenominal) mythological figures. He is both the intellectual Daedalus, and the rebel Icarus. From the very beginning, the two names are separate from one another. Stephens parents call him Stephen - Goodbye, Stephen, goodbye (5). This is ironic as sending Stephen to the convent exposes him further to the fraud 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 man who seeks his own freedom. On the other hand, Stephens classmates call him Dedalus. Stephen is not one of them. Stephen is set past 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 horseshit anything or damn all (71). Indeed, Dedalus is not one of the hypocrites. He is labelled 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 soon 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 eyes / Apologise / Apologise / Pull out his eyes continually insist on the strict code of behaviour that Stephen is judge to uphold (4).