Quote Analysis

We haven't discussed this in class (yet), but there was one quote in this book that really stuck with me. I thought it was a powerful and significant passage and and I thought I would share why. When I was reading yesterday's assignment, I came across this line spoken by Stephen near the end of the section: 

"You made me confess the fears that I have, But I will tell you also what I do not fear. I do not fear to be alone or to be spurned for another or to leave whatever I have to leave. And I am not afraid to make a mistake, even a great mistake, a lifelong mistake, and perhaps as long as eternity too."

Throughout the book we see Stephen criticizing himself over every minute detail: women, social life, actions, religion, etc. We see him constantly punishing himself because he felt that everything he did was somehow bad and he needed to repent. However, I think that it is in this moment that Stephen finally realizes that it is okay to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes instead of struggling with himself over them. I think that while Stephen's epiphany at the end of chapter 4 is significant to his coming of age, I would also argue that this passage (and the ones surrounding it) were as, or maybe even more, significant. He has finally come into acceptance that all of the mistakes he had made in his past were not all pointless and that he gained valuable knowledge and experience from them. I think that he no longer regrets any of the previous choices he had made. This quote just further proves the point that Stephen in no longer scared to dedicate his life to the arts, even if it's a mistake he will have to live with for the rest of his life. He has personally discovered what he wants to do and there isn't anything, not even his fears, that will stand in his way. This includes sacrificing his friendships and going against his mother's wishes. In this quote I feel that not only has he firmly persuaded the people around him that he wants to become an artist, but he has finally officially convinced himself that this is the right thing to do. Instead of doing what people think would be the right thing to do, like becoming a priest, Stephen has decided that even if he has to be alone while doing it, he wants to follow his heart by dedicating himself to the arts. He is willing to leave everything behind for it, especially his home country, and I think that this is an enormous step in the novel about coming of age. 

What is coming of age?

So I have been sitting on this idea for a while now because, to be frank, I am not exactly confident in the wording and accurate description of my answer to this question. In class we discussed how many of us thought of "coming of age" as a process instead of a moment, but I like to think of it more as a foundation. A foundation that, when complete, can help you live your life to it's fullest (or, to continue the analogy, build the a stunning building).

I think that someone finally completes coming of age when they, essentially, figure out who they are as a person and accept it and not try to alter it (either for other people or for what they consider to fit in). This may be why some people come of age earlier than others (and some not at all) as well as why many people associate this completion with college, where the freedom and independence allows you to discover yourself a lot faster than with the constriction of "minorhood" as I like to call it (since childhood seems to bring a connotation of adolescence which isn't always the case). I've always thought that with acceptance comes happiness, and with happiness comes a well lived life. Sometimes this process is harder on some than others. However, there is some contradiction to this as I believe that you are never done learning or discovering new things and therefore constantly changing and therefore always developing. Does that mean that no one ever truly comes of age? In all honesty, the only way to figure that out is to experience it for myself and, while I would love to tell you my coming of age story, it just hasn't happened quite yet. And I'm okay with that.

It's all perspective really. When I was younger and getting ready to have my Bat Mitzvah I was positive that afterward I could be the adult I always wanted to be. I thought of it as a sure thing. I looked up to adults and I knew I could be an amazing one. But now I think that adults are just kids with a little more responsibility and a little less innocence. What makes us so different than them is the real question of coming of age. How do we get from one to another? I think the general assumption from many people is by the process of coming of age. And I am not saying that's wrong, I actually half agree with it, I just think that everyone is different and it's their foundation and their personality that gave them this individuality. It's different for everyone.

Anyway, I'm not even sure if this makes sense, I was just kinda mulling it over for a while and thought writing it down might help.