... the events of Stephen's life mirror events from Joyce's own youth. Through the novel, we can notice that Stephen is a sensitive, thoughtful boy and, though Stephen's large family runs into deepening financial difficulties, his parents manage to send him to prestigious schools and to a university. As ... novel, we notice how Stephen undergoes crucial transformations. The first, which occurs during his first years as Clongowes, is form a sheltered little boy to a bright student who understands social interactions and can begin to make sense of the world around him. The second, which occurs ...

• Word Count: 4998
• Approx Pages: 20
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... calls in the chips when Polly's "virtue" is compromised. On the surface, this scenario seems like the perfect setup for a comedy. But there is nothing comic about Joyce's vision, for each of the three principal characters are trapped in a web of social expectations and constraints from which it proves impossible to escape. For example, ... her beyond the pale of polite society. Polly needs to find a husband, both to take her place in the adult world and to quash the rumors about her rampant hormones. And once Mr. Doran's affair with Polly is revealed, Mr. Doran needs to marry the girl in...

• Word Count: 2723
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School