The Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man Analysis

Religion is defined as A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual being (Mifflin). It is known that many of our behaviours are determined by the presence of religion in one's life. Religion implants its principles in a person and their attitudes, personality, morals and ethics and alters it to a great extent. This

To read is to feel connected; to feel as though we are not alone, each of us read for a different purpose. Just like reading authors have a purpose for writing. The purpose behind Elie Wiesel novel “Night” is the duty he felt as a survivor, he felt as though he was a messenger and needed to tell the world about this catastrophe. There are many aspects that make a novel good and bad, each is determined by the details given by the author, but also the lack of detail can make a novel feel as if it’s bad because it leaves us hanging; wanting for more. There is always a way the author can make their novel better, just like with everything there’s always room for improvement.

For many people, religion is a very touchy subject. For most, it is a personal decision; people choose a faith that aligns with their beliefs, ideas, and faiths. Although people would like to think that religion is a personal decision, and they can adapt it to how they feel and what they believe, in practice, that is not the case. Religion represents a commitment to a set of principles that are not moldable, adaptable, or flexible. Religion, although it may be a personal belief, it is extremely defined, with little to no room for flexibility. If people try to modify their religion to their own beliefs or ideas, the pushback can be severe. The lines in religion and faith as to what is acceptable and what is not acceptable are clear, and

     Religion plays a part in a person's identity structure. It is the search of what one calls faith in one's self and the worship of either one supreme being or numerous beings. But religion comes in different formalities. There are those who were raised practicing their religion, those who were influenced and converted, and those who were brainwashed. People who practice a certain religion will more likely raise their children under that same religion. Being raised practicing a religion creates the virtues and morals for that person's identity from an early stage. It helps parents create a sense of direction and inflict the core values their children need. Some people have

Literature is an essential part of the center of a person’s life. It provides a certain assurance and “feeds the soul” of one. Whether it be a book, TV, or even an advertisement, literature exists everywhere. A person is able to develop many skills by studying literature, and expand the horizon of their learning. An immeasurable amount of insight and knowledge can be gained from the study of literature which contributes in providing readers with an understanding of the past, and a philosophical assimilation of the moral behind a writing piece.

One of the main points the author tries to convey to the reader throughout this story is to

Religion is something most people around the world have in common. Whether one holds religious beliefs or not, he can relate to others with similar beliefs. A belief in a higher power has a big impact on society today just as it has in the past, as illustrated in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Religion impacts all members of society, whether they believe in one or not.

“The purpose of morality is to teach you, not to suffer and die, but to enjoy yourself and live, ” explained the narrator in the book Atlas Shrugged (Rand, Atlas Shrugged). Reading helps one live a fuller, more enjoyable life. When one is taught of morality and empathy through the means of reading, they are on the path to that way of living. The fundamental empathy that connects all humans is refined and expanded upon by reading, as it exposes the readers to knowledge and morality applied in times of struggle. Books can demonstrate morals coming through in often extreme or emotionally loaded situations.

Though many people nowadays disregard the usefulness of literature in modern society I belong to the opposite sect of folk. Reading and literature is more than just words and writeing, its ways for the dead to speak and advise those to come through understanding of common feelings. Whether the author meant to mean something through metaphor or more literally is not important, what is important is that us as the readers are able to communicate and interpret needed information from the subject and author. Something that I sometimes think is lacking in todays society is not just this communictation but understanding. Furthermore reading it gives us a way to understand and invest in lives other than ourselves. Secondly reading and understanding what we read allows us to feel empathetic towards the subject thus allowing us to share our own story of feeling and ideas. This is

Religion is something that everyone wrestles with from time to time. It is difficult because it isn't something that can be seen or touched. But, people still believe in it and many have devoted their entire lives to religions of all

For many people, literature is just some story created in the minds of authors to provide enjoyment for readers. Others think literature is just ineffectual words on a page that won’t help them deal with life in any way. However, they are wrong. While literature is indeed stories created by authors, it has the power to galvanize many people; it can help people gain self-esteem, overcome hardships, and inspire them to become better. Literature is different from all other texts, and reading a variety of them gives people a refuge, education, and inspiration.

Religion is a topic that many people are interested in learning about. It brings many questions, and there are many unknowns that we don’t know about. People question as to where do certain beliefs come from and where certain religions were developed. Religion is a choice in every person 's life. It is like having your own freedom. Having freedom gives every individual the choice to worship and pray to whomever they consider to be their one and only God. The faith denomination gives us the opportunity to be apart of any religion we want and no one can change that view. Religion is self-governed by each person, and every person is entitled to their own beliefs.

Stephen starts as an object - Baby Tuckoo - in his father's story of his early years and is thus without his own identity. Later, at Clongowes, he is either gripped with embarrassment as he fails to connect with his peers or speechless at a family Christmas dinner as debate and anger rages around him. He is isolated, associating only with the sounds of words (belt, iss, suck) and other stimuli. He doesn't understand the schoolboy argot and his consequent victimisation is all too predictable as his peers react with typical schoolboy nastiness to a boy who doesn't fit in.

Religious extremism is a social ideology that is heavily implemented into both A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and My Son the Fanatic. With Steven Dedalus being subjected to his traditional family views of Catholicism as was the author of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, James Joyce. Throughout the text Stephen is subjected to religious extremism, particularly in Chapter 3 when he attends Arnall 's sermon, while on a religious retreat, in which he learns of Hell and sin, beleiving that 'God had allowed him to see the hell reserved for his sins 'and that the sermon is directed at him. This leads him to a part of his life where he followed the Catholic faith to an extreme degree, much like in My Son the Fanatic, whereby Ali devotes himself to the Muslim faith.

In A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stephen Dedalus defines beauty and the artist's comprehension of his/her own art. Stephen uses his esthetic theory with theories borrowed from St. Thomas Aquinas and Plato. The discourse can be broken down into three main sections: 1) A definitions of beauty and art. 2) The apprehension and qualifications of beauty. 3) The artist's view of his/her own work. I will explain how the first two sections of his esthetic theory relate to Stephen. Furthermore, I will argue that in the last section, Joyce is speaking of Stephen Dedalus and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man as his art.