I think this novel most reminds me of Ake in the sense that it is a coming of age tale to me and a continuous development of character and identity. We see Stephen at a very young age begin to question limitations and the nature of everything. We see him scolded and living in constant fear of sinning. Yet Stephen is bullied at school, somewhat intimidated by Dante, and distanced from his father and his natural autonomous characteristics begin to come out. By using Count of Monte Christo as a form of escape, Stephen is developing his affection for literature but also providing himself with an outlet to express himself. I think this is a key turning ponit in Stephen's life as this is when he truly becomes independent. He goes through typical struggles like family relations and money budgeting. He also works with sexual desires. Concerning the prostitutes, Stephen seems tortured and torn between what he has always been taught is right and what he wants to do in the moment. Stephen's impulsiveness is a characteristic that has caused him much grief and one that he must deal with. He becomes depressed because of the degradation of his soul and I think this sadness and regret is a driving force for Stephen's independence. Since he feels alone he acts alone, just as he did at a younger age. I do think that Stephen has a strong desire to repair his soul and begins that journey.
I want to say that this is interesting to me, because I find this part of the book more honest and believable than the beginning in which Stephen is just reciting prayers. I think his independence and desire to repair his soul makes his part in Catholicism more genuine. This time around it is he himself who is pushing him to be right with God. I think we see Stephen's true devotion to religion.
But that devotion dwindles again and Stephen is in this kind of limbo. I think that the extreme guilt for his sins has pushed Stephen into such a far away, lonely place that he cannot find even God again.
I can't say that I get a resolution of Stephen's character out of this novel. I thought he would stick to Catholicism and find his own way in the religion but I don't find that answer.
I don't really know what I think about the book's ending. I do think though, that Stephen is struggling in a world with different languages, religions, and races just like the other characters in our other novels.
The growth of Stephen was so interesting to witness. We see him as a child receiving all this education, whether secular or religious, and we see the world in which he is brought up in, and how even from a young age he is so ambivalent towards it all. It as if he must fight it to understand, for if he just left it alone he might not give it another thought. His foray in religiosity begins with curious contempt, progresses with serious consideration of a pious cloistered life, and ends with a general acceptance, a laissez faire acceptance. He believes in god, and having now gotten to know and truly know sin he repells it, because he had to fight it to learn it.
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