wisdom

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             Another stylistic technique for which Joyce is noted is the epiphany, a moment in which a character makes a sudden, profound realization that creates a change in his or her perception of the world. Joyce uses epiphany most notably in Dubliners, but A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is full of these sudden moments of spiritual revelation as well. Most notable is a scene in which Stephen sees a young girl wading at the beach, which strikes him with the sudden realization that an appreciation for beauty can be truly good. This moment is a classic example of Joyce's belief that an epiphany can dramatically alter the human spirit in a matter of just a few seconds. .
             A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man tells the story of Stephen Dedalus, the main character of the novel. Growing up, Stephen goes through long phases of hedonism and deep religiosity. He eventually adopts a philosophy of aestheticism, greatly valuing beauty and art. Stephen is essentially Joyce's alter ego, and many of 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 he grows up, Stephen grapples with his nationality, religion, family and morality, and finally decides to reject all socially imposed bonds and instead live freely as an artist. Along the 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 when Stephen sleeps with the Dublin prostitute, is from innocence to debauchery. The third, which occurs when Stephen hears Father Arnall's speech on death and hell, is from an unrepentant sinner to a devout Catholic.