Top 4 A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man quotes
“Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo.”
Chapter 1
The opening lines of the novel reference both traditional narrative structures like those that usually began fairytales, and Stephen’s father. Stephen’s father and traditional narrative structures are both abandoned quite quickly as the narrative progresses. As such their inclusion in the beginning can be seen as a means of giving credit to both of these entities for Stephen to work upon and progress.
“What was after the universe? Nothing.”
Chapter 1
Stephen’s proclivity for imagination and his deeply impressionable nature is made evident in his pondering about the place of his existence. Stephen’s imagination causes him to launch into a reverie about the nature of the universe simply from the contemplation of a map.
“How often had he seen himself as a priest wielding calmly and humbly the awful power of which angels and saints stood in reverence!”
Chapter 3
Stephen’s outward displays of piety have a deep impact on the faculty of his college, who believe that he may be able to follow the arduous path of priesthood. Stephen’s deeply tempted by the power that he would wield as a priest, and yet he decides not to pursue a future as a priest because he recognizes that he cannot live the life of strict penance that is asked of priests.
“Where was his boyhood now? Where was the soul that had hung back from her destiny, to brood alone upon the shame of her wounds and in her house of squalor and subterfuge to queen it in faded cerements and in wreaths that withered at the touch? Or where was he?”
Chapter 4
Stephen cannot help but feel a physical sense of dislocation when he decides that he cannot follow the path of priesthood. Stephen had convinced himself that he believed in his religion and had dedicated a lot of his energy to trying to become a good Christian. However, in a moment of epiphany, Stephen suddenly realizes that his conviction in God’s existence is not complete and he experiences spiritual homelessness.
