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Exploring Religious Constraints and a Journey towards Self-Discovery in

James Joyce’s A Portrait of The Artist as a Young Man

Article in International Journal of Literature and Arts · June 2023

DOI: 10.11648/j.ijla.20231103.12

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International Journal of Literature and Arts
2023; 11(3): 104-109
http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijla
doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20231103.12
ISSN: 2331-0553 (Print); ISSN: 2331-057X (Online)

Exploring Religious Constraints and a Journey towards

Self-Discovery in James Joyce’s A Portrait of The Artist as
a Young Man
Fahamida Akter
Senior Lecturer, Department of English, Port City International University, Chattogram, Bangladesh

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To cite this article:

Fahamida Akter. Exploring Religious Constraints and a Journey Towards Self-Discovery in James Joyce’s A Portrait of The Artist as a
Young Man. International Journal of Literature and Arts. Vol. 11, No. 3, 2023, pp. 104-109. doi: 10.11648/j.ijla.20231103.12

Received: May 9, 2023; Accepted: May 26, 2023; Published: June 6, 2023

Abstract: The object of this paper is to represent a deeply flawed character Stephen Dedalus, whose journey towards self-
discovery is hindered by societal and religious constraints in James Joyce’s novel A Portrait of the Artist as a young man. One
of the most prominent issues of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is showing how Stephen casts off the Catholic
Religion, his religious identity while he evolves his own freedom and artistic consciousness throughout a procedure that will
shape the different phases of his life. From childhood Stephen ascribes to an absolute belief in the morals of the church as his
family was a devout Catholic family. As a teenager, this belief directs him to two opposite extremes, both of which are
detrimental. At first, he falls into the extreme of sins, repeatedly sleeping with prostitutes, lying, envying, becoming prone to
all seven deadly sins and intentionally turning his back on religion. Though Stephen sins consciously, he is always aware that
he is breaking the church's rules. Again, when Father Arnall's sermon encourages him to return to Catholicism, he falls to the
other extreme, becoming a fanatical model of religious fidelity and dedication. At long last, nonetheless, Stephen understands
that both of these lifestyles—the completely immoral and the completely devoted—are constraints and are dangerous for him.
Stephen realizes that extreme religious rules and complete sinful attitude both will not permit him to enjoy the full experience
of being human. Stephen finally reaches a decision to embrace life and rejoice humanity after seeing a young girl wandering at
a beach. At the end of the novel, Stephen replaces his initial Catholicism by a more personal and “evolutionary” religion, the
religion of art that will make him a complete and eternal person.

Keywords: Religion, Fanatic, Artist, Epiphany, Growth, Identity

novel. He grapples with the question of who he is and what

1. Introduction he wants to become, as he confronts the conflicting demands
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man recognized its then of religion, family, society, and his own desires.
thirty-two-year-old author, James Joyce, as a leading figure Set in Ireland in the late nineteenth century, Portrait is a
in the international movement known as literary modernism. semi-autobiographical novel about the development of a
With Ulysses, Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a young Irishman, Stephen Dedalus, whose background has
Young Man Joyce immaculate his stream-of-consciousness much in common with Joyce's. Stephen's education and
narrative style and became a literary celebrity. A Portrait of growth include not only his formal schooling but also his
the Artist as a Young Man tells the story of a young Irishman moral, emotional, psychological and intellectual development
named Stephen Dedalus as he grows up discovers his identity as he observes and reacts to the world around him. At the
as an artist. The title describes the book's subject quite center of the story is Stephen's rejection of his Roman
accurately. On one level, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Catholic upbringing and his growing confidence as an artist.
Man can be read as what the Germans call a Bildungsroman, In the course of A Portrait, Stephen seeks to define his own
or coming-of-age novel. On another level, the novel shows identity. At the beginning of the novel, Stephen is portrayed
how Stephen struggles with an identity crisis throughout the as a devout Catholic schoolboy who wants to please his
 International Journal of Literature and Arts 2023; 11(3): 104-109 105

teachers, his family, and his church. However, he soon family and religion is a rejection of the past and a move
becomes aware of his own sexual desires and his growing towards a more liberated, individualistic future" [12]. At the
interest in literature and art, which bring him into conflict same time, critics have also noted that Stephen's rebellion
with the conservative values of his upbringing. against the Church is not simply a matter of rejecting
As he grows older and begins to develop his own ideas tradition and authority, but rather a necessary step in his own
about aesthetics and the nature of art, Stephen becomes personal growth and development. As John Paul Riquelme
increasingly isolated from the people and institutions around notes, Stephen's rejection of Catholicism is a way of
him. He feels trapped by the limitations of his society and his asserting his own autonomy and asserting his own artistic
family, and he struggles to find a sense of purpose and vision.
identity. He is repeatedly confronted and confounded by the In his essay on "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man,"
influence of his environment, and in particular his cultural John Paul Riquelme argues that "Stephen Dedalus's self-
and religious heritage. At the end of the novel, Stephen discovery is the product of his movement from the strictures
resolves to escape the constraints of family, narrow of his Catholic upbringing toward the realization of his own
nationalism and religious tradition by moving abroad. He artistic self" [17]. Similarly, literary critic Morris Beja asserts
declares that he has found his identity as an artist. Stephen's that "Stephen's spiritual development is a process of self-
journey towards self-discovery is marked by a series of discovery in which he moves away from the religious
epiphanies, or moments of sudden insight, that help him to constraints of his youth and towards a more individualistic,
clarify his own beliefs and values. He ultimately decides to secular worldview" [1]. In her article on "A Portrait of the
reject the religious and political institutions of his country in Artist as a Young Man," Susan Stanford Friedman argues
order to pursue his art, but this decision is not without its that "Stephen's aesthetic vision and spiritual awakening
own risks and challenges. require him to break free from the constraints of his family
Joyce's portrayal of Stephen's identity crisis is both and his church" [7].
complex and nuanced, reflecting the struggles that many Despite his rejection of religious authority, Stephen's
young people face as they try to find their place in the world. struggle with religion remains a central theme in the novel.
This paper aims to show how Joyce's novel offers a critique This is especially evident in his relationship with his family,
of the role of religion in Irish society, challenging its who are devout Catholics. Stephen's father, for instance, is
authority and its impact on individual freedom and creativity. depicted as a stern and authoritarian figure that imposes his
It reflects the tensions and conflicts that exist between religious beliefs on his son. Stephen's interactions with his
religion and modernity. The novel is a powerful exploration father demonstrate how religious constraints can create
of the human condition, and it continues to resonate with tension within families and hinder self-discovery. In her
readers today. analysis of the novel, Elizabeth Bonapfel argues that
"Stephen's identity is shaped by his interactions with the
2. Literature Review world around him, as he moves from passive observer to
active participant in his own destiny" [4].
Religion plays a significant role in James Joyce's novel, "A Moreover, Stephen's attempts to break free from his religious
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," as it presents the upbringing are also reflected in his artistic pursuits. He sees his
protagonist's struggle to reconcile his personal desires with art as a way to express himself freely and escape the constraints
the constraints imposed by his religious beliefs and of religion. For instance, he says, "I go to encounter for the
upbringing. The novel follows the growth and development millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the
of Stephen Dedalus, a young man in early 20th-century smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race" [9].
Ireland, as he confronts the rigid dogmas of the Catholic This quote illustrates Stephen's belief that art can be a means of
Church and seeks his own path to self-discovery. self-discovery and expression, free from the constraints of
Throughout the novel, Stephen's inner turmoil is depicted religion. Literary critic Sam Slote argues that "Stephen's
through his constant questioning of religious doctrine and his attainment of artistic freedom at the end of the novel is a
efforts to distance himself from his Catholic upbringing. For rejection of the narrowness and conformity of Irish society and
example, Stephen expresses his frustration with the an embrace of the radical possibilities of the modern world" [19].
limitations imposed by religious dogma when he declares, "I According to critic Hugh Kenner, "Stephen's pursuit of freedom
will not serve that in which I no longer believe, whether it is a rejection of the constraints of his upbringing and an embrace
calls itself my home, my fatherland, or my church" [9]. This of his own individuality" [11].
quote shows how Stephen feels constrained by the Catholic In "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," epiphanies
Church and its teachings, which he no longer accepts. play a crucial role in shaping the development of the novel's
Literary critics have commented on the ways in which protagonist, Stephen Dedalus. Through these moments of
Stephen's journey towards self-realization is hindered by the sudden realization, Stephen gains new insights into his
religious constraints imposed on him. Karen Lawrence identity, his relationships, and the world around him. In his
suggests that Stephen's struggle with the Church is a article "Joyce's Epiphanies and A Portrait of the Artist as a
reflection of Joyce's own ambivalent relationship with Young Man," Morris Beja explores the relationship between
Catholicism. Lawrence argues that "Stephen's rejection of his Joyce's concept of the epiphany and the development of
106 Fahamida Akter: Exploring Religious Constraints and a Journey Towards Self-Discovery in James Joyce’s
A Portrait of The Artist as a Young Man

Stephen's artistic sensibility [2]. He argues that Stephen's his art, thus marking his emergence as an independent artist.
epiphanies are not simply moments of revelation, but rather a Stephen Dedalus, the protagonist of "A Portrait of the
process of growth and transformation that allows him to Artist as a Young Man," struggles with an identity crisis
become a more fully realized artist. Similarly, in his book throughout the novel. He grapples with the question of who
"The Art of James Joyce: Method and Design in 'Ulysses' and he is and what he wants to become, as he confronts the
'Finnegans Wake,'" A. Walton Litz discusses the epiphanies conflicting demands of religion, family, society, and his own
in "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" as part of desires. “Stephen’s identity is a complex amalgam of his
Joyce's larger project of portraying the development of a family background” [8]. At the beginning of the novel,
modern consciousness [13]. He argues that Joyce's use of Stephen is portrayed as a devout Catholic schoolboy who
stream of consciousness and other narrative techniques wants to please his teachers, his family, and his church.
allows him to capture the complexity and depth of Stephen's However, he soon becomes aware of his own sexual desires
psychological experiences. and his growing interest in literature and art, which bring him
"A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" depicts the into conflict with the conservative values of his upbringing.
struggle between religious constraints and self-discovery Religion plays a significant role in Stephen's life, and his
through the character of Stephen Dedalus. Through Stephen's struggles with Catholicism are a recurring theme throughout
experiences, the novel raises important questions about the the novel. The novel is set in Ireland at the turn of the 20th
nature of identity, the role of tradition in shaping the century, a time when the country was deeply influenced by
individual, and the relationship between art and society. the Catholic Church. Stephen grows up in a devout Catholic
Joyce's novel shows how Stephen's rejection of his Catholic family, attends a Catholic school, and is expected to follow
upbringing and the rigid dogmas of the Catholic Church is a the teachings of the Church. However, Stephen's questioning
critical aspect of his journey towards self-discovery. This mind and artistic sensibilities often clash with the strict
struggle illustrates the challenges of reconciling one's doctrines and rules of Catholicism. One of the earliest
personal beliefs and desires with the expectations of family, examples of religious constraints in the novel is Stephen's
society, and religious institutions. experience of confession. Confession is a sacrament in the
Catholic Church where a person confesses their sins to a
3. Materials and Method priest and receives absolution. Stephen struggles with the
concept of confession and finds it difficult to confess his sins
Joyce’s novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man has to a priest who he perceives as being less knowledgeable than
been gone through as primary source of the research. Joyce’s him. This struggle highlights the conflict between Stephen's
other writings, biography, different renowned national and own intellectual development and the limitations of Catholic
international journal, online sources, 20th century novels, doctrine. Another example of religious constraints in the
prose work, literary works on social class consciousness have novel is Stephen's encounter with the Jesuit priest, Father
contributed greatly to the formulation of this secondary Arnall. Father Arnall delivers a sermon on the horrors of hell,
qualitative analysis. which deeply affects Stephen. The sermon reinforces the
strict doctrine of Catholicism and highlights the fear and guilt
4. Result and Discussion that religion can instill in individuals. Stephen's reaction to
the sermon reveals his growing disillusionment with the
"A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" is a novel Church and his desire to break free from its constraints. The
written by James Joyce and published in 1916. It tells the character of Stephen's mother also represents religious
story of a young Irishman named Stephen Dedalus as he constraints in the novel. She is portrayed as a devout Catholic
grows up and discovers his identity as an artist. The novel is who values religious doctrine above all else. Her strict
divided into five chapters, each depicting a different stage in adherence to Catholicism conflicts with Stephen's artistic
Stephen's life. The first chapter begins with Stephen as a sensibilities and intellectual curiosity, and her influence on
young boy attending a strict Catholic school, where he him is a significant factor in his struggle with religion.
struggles with the conflicting demands of religion and his In "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," extreme
own personal desires. The second chapter follows Stephen as religious behavior is portrayed as a significant constraint on
a teenager, exploring his burgeoning sexuality and his the protagonist, Stephen Dedalus. The novel depicts the
growing interest in literature and art. The third chapter finds intense piety of the Irish Catholic Church and the strict moral
Stephen as a university student, where he becomes more code that it imposes on its adherents, particularly on young
politically aware and begins to develop his own theories people like Stephen. One of the key ways in which extreme
about aesthetics and the nature of art. In the fourth chapter, religious behavior is shown to constrain Stephen is through
Stephen decides to leave Ireland and travel to Europe, hoping the church's teachings on sin and morality. Stephen is taught
to find inspiration and a new sense of self. The final chapter that many of his natural desires, such as sexual desire and
sees Stephen returning to Ireland, but he has become artistic ambition, are sinful and must be suppressed or
disillusioned with his former Catholic beliefs and feels controlled. This leads to feelings of guilt and shame, as well
alienated from the society around him. He ultimately decides as a sense of conflict between his natural inclinations and the
to reject both his country and his religion in order to pursue expectations of the church. Furthermore, the novel also
 International Journal of Literature and Arts 2023; 11(3): 104-109 107

depicts the ways in which extreme religious behavior can authority. One of the most prominent examples of Stephen's
limit intellectual and artistic development. The Irish Catholic sinful behavior is his sexual encounter with the prostitute,
Church in the novel is shown to be deeply suspicious of which occurs during his adolescence. This experience leaves
intellectual inquiry and critical thinking, emphasizing instead Stephen feeling guilty and ashamed, as he struggles to
blind faith and obedience to authority. This leads to conflicts reconcile his Catholic faith with his natural desires. Stephen's
between Stephen and his teachers, who seek to impose their guilt and shame are further compounded by the moral
own narrow understanding of history and culture on their teachings of the church, which emphasize the sinfulness of
students, stifling their intellectual curiosity and creativity. sexual activity outside of marriage. Stephen's disobedience to
Overall, the novel portrays extreme religious behavior as a authority is also a source of sin in the novel. According to
powerful force in Stephen's life, one that often acts as a John Nash, "Stephen's sin of renouncing his family and his
constraint on his natural impulses and his development as an Catholic faith is the pivotal event in the novel, marking a
artist and a human being. decisive break in Stephen's development as an artist" [16]. In
While Stephen Dedalus is portrayed as a character that his review, Timothy Martin argues that "Stephen's sin is not a
rebels against the extreme religious behavior of the Catholic moral failing but a necessary step in his artistic development"
Church, he also demonstrates elements of extreme religious [14]. He challenges the authority of his teachers and the
behavior himself in the early part of the novel. For example, church, rejecting their teachings and seeking to forge his own
as a young boy, Stephen is deeply religious and obsessed path. This rebellion leads to conflicts with his family and the
with the idea of sin. He fears the consequences of sin and school authorities, and Stephen is ultimately expelled from
believes that he is constantly in danger of damnation. He his school for refusing to conform to their expectations. In
engages in acts of self-punishment, such as abstaining from his analysis, James Fairhall argues that "Stephen's sin is a
food, in order to atone for his sins. Furthermore, Stephen also manifestation of his rebellion against the oppressive authority
shows signs of religious fanaticism when he becomes a of the church and his search for personal freedom" [6].
member of the Catholic group, the Sodality of Our Lady. However, it is important to note that Stephen's sinfulness is
According to critic Bonnie Kime Scott, "Stephen's religious not portrayed simply as a moral failing, but rather as a natural
imagination in Portrait is a representation of what could aspect of his development as an artist and a human being.
happen when the individual is swallowed up by the Joyce portrays Stephen's struggles with sin and morality as
community, when the individual has no place for himself or part of his larger process of self-discovery and artistic
herself in that community, and when the community fails to awakening, emphasizing the complexity and nuance of
acknowledge or understand the individual's experience" [18]. Stephen's character and experiences.
Critic Richard Brown observes that "Stephen's religious Stephen's journey towards freedom and self-discovery is
fanaticism is a symptom of a greater malaise, the sense of marked by a series of epiphanies, or moments of sudden
alienation and the search for identity which dominate his insight, that help him to clarify his own beliefs and values. In
young life" [5]. He is enthusiastic about the group's strict her article "Epiphanies in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young
religious practices, such as frequent confession and the Man," Marianne McDonald argues that Stephen's epiphanies
recitation of prayers. He becomes very involved in the are a central aspect of the novel's structure and theme [15].
group's activities and is even chosen to lead a procession of She suggests that Joyce uses these moments of realization to
the Blessed Sacrament. Critic Harold Bloom suggests that show how Stephen's consciousness develops and evolves
Stephen's extreme religious behavior is a reflection of the over the course of the novel. These epiphanies also serve to
broader societal and cultural influences of the time, writing reveal the complex nature of Stephen's consciousness and his
that "Stephen Dedalus embodies the crisis of Irish evolving understanding of himself and his place in society.
Catholicism in the early twentieth century, when the church One of the most notable epiphanies in the novel occurs when
had lost its authority and the search for alternatives to its Stephen is walking on the beach and sees a girl wading in the
sacramental theology began" [3]. However, as the novel water. As he watches her, he experiences a profound sense of
progresses, Stephen begins to question the strict dogma and beauty and a realization that his perception of the world is
rigid moral code of the Catholic Church. He becomes shaped by his own subjective experience. This epiphany
disillusioned with the idea of sin and begins to view it as a marks a turning point in Stephen's development, as he begins
limiting and oppressive force. He rejects the church's to reject the rigid dogma of the Catholic Church and embrace
teachings on morality and sexual behavior, which he sees as a more individualistic and artistic worldview. "He felt his
a hindrance to his artistic and intellectual development. In soul receding into some pleasant and vicious region; and
this way, Stephen's extreme religious behavior in the early there, in that new world of sensations, he felt that he had
part of the novel serves as a contrast to his later rebellion been liberated from his duty as a priest" [9] - This quote
against the Catholic Church. It highlights the complex nature describes the moment when Stephen experiences an epiphany
of his character and the evolution of his beliefs and values and realizes that he no longer wants to become a priest. "He
over time. was alone. He was unheeded, happy, and near to the wild
In "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," Stephen heart of life. He was alone and young and wilful and
Dedalus commits several sins throughout the course of the wildhearted, alone amid a waste of wild air and brackish
novel, including sexual transgressions and disobedience to waters and the sea-harvest of shells and tangle and veiled
108 Fahamida Akter: Exploring Religious Constraints and a Journey Towards Self-Discovery in James Joyce’s
A Portrait of The Artist as a Young Man

grey sunlight" [9]. This quote describes the moment when his Catholic upbringing and the expectations of his family
Stephen experiences an epiphany while walking on the beach and society as he tries to develop his own identity and artistic
and realizing his own subjectivity. Another significant vision. Stephen's eventual rejection of Catholicism and his
epiphany occurs when Stephen attends a Christmas dinner decision to pursue a life as an artist can be seen as a rejection
with his family. As he listens to his father and his uncles of the religious constraints that have held him back
discussing politics and religion, he realizes that his own throughout his life. The novel ultimately suggests that
beliefs and values are fundamentally different from those of breaking free from religious constraints is necessary for
his family. This epiphany marks the beginning of Stephen's personal growth and artistic expression. "A Portrait of the
estrangement from his family and his rejection of the Artist as a Young Man" explores the religious constraints that
traditional Irish Catholic identity. "Welcome, O life! I go to affected Irish society at the turn of the 20th century and their
encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and impact on the development of the novel's main character,
to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of Stephen Dedalus. The novel highlights the conflicts between
my race" [9] - This quote comes at the end of the novel and Catholic doctrine and personal growth, intellectual curiosity,
describes Stephen's final epiphany, in which he embraces his and artistic expression, ultimately suggesting that breaking
individuality and sets out to create his own artistic vision. free from religious constraints is necessary for individual
These quotes highlight the importance of epiphany in the growth and fulfillment. Literary critics have commented on
novel, and demonstrate how these moments of sudden insight the ways in which Stephen's journey towards self-realization
and clarity are integral to Stephen's development as an artist is hindered by the religious constraints imposed on him.
and as an individual. Ultimately Stephen rejects all religious Joyce's novel is considered a landmark in modernist literature
constraints and embraces his artistic pursuit. Stephen for its innovative use of language and narrative structure, as
Dedalus's rejection of family and religion is a necessary step well as its exploration of themes such as identity, religion,
in his journey towards artistic self-realization. and artistic expression. Through Stephen's experiences, the
Throughout the novel, Stephen's epiphanies serve as novel raises important questions about the nature of identity,
moments of insight and revelation, helping him to better the role of tradition in shaping the individual, and the
understand his own thoughts, feelings, and desires. They also relationship between art and society.
serve as catalysts for his artistic development, as he begins to
use his own experiences and perceptions as inspiration for his
writing. The novel remains a powerful meditation on the References
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