How did Stephan feel when he was caned by Father Dolan? How did others react to it? [British Novel June 2019]

In James Joyce's novel "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," Stephen Dedalus is caned by Father Dolan as punishment for not completing his assignment. According to the novel, Stephen feels lonely, fearful, and trapped in his new life at Clongowes, where he is constantly bullied by his peers. As he reflects on the day his parents left him, he becomes increasingly aware of his vulnerability and feels caught in a "scrimmage" of threats and violence.

After being caned, Stephen is not only physically sore but also upset at being treated unjustly. He thinks about the disparity between Father Dolan's cruel behavior and the idea of a merciful God. When he asks Father Conmee to talk to Father Dolan about his punishment, he is sent for another whipping, laughed at, and told that he deserved the punishment. Stephen's friends nickname Father Dolan "Baldyhead Dolan," and another student named Corrigan chooses to take a flogging instead of being expelled from Clongowes.

Despite his mistreatment, Stephen is able to find moments of happiness and a sense of purity, such as when he receives communion. However, he also becomes cynical about people who claim to have a flawless faith, and he begins to use his intellect and logic to question spiritual matters.

Overall, Stephen's caning by Father Dolan has a significant impact on his emotional state and outlook on life. It highlights the brutality of the educational system and the unfair treatment of vulnerable students, and it pushes Stephen to question his faith and embrace a more critical perspective.


[1] "Stephens feelings of loneliness increase as he thinks of the day when his parents said good-bye to him, leaving him helpless in the threatening maze of his new life at Clongowes, where he felt caught in the whirl of a scrimmage . . . fearful of the flashing eyes and muddy boots . . ."

URL: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/p/a-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man/summary-and-analysis/chapter-i


[2] "Stephen is talking to another student because his glasses are broken 5. How does Father Conmee respond to Stephens request that he talk to Father Dolan about his punishment in Latin class? He sends Stephen for another whipping He laughs at Stephen and tells him to return to his dorm He tells Stephen that he deserved the whipping"

URL: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/portraitartist/quiz/


[3] "As well as feeling incredibly sore after his beating, Stephen feels upset at being subjected to such unjust treatment. He also reflects on the disparity between Father Dolans cruel..."

URL: https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/give-an-account-of-father-dolan-s-pandying-of-2313410


[4] "Stephen feels happy, clean and holy. He is able to sleep without nightmares however at the end of the chapter, Stephen has received communion, and there is no indication given that he will revert to his prior ways. Describe the horrors Father Arnell believes make hell unbearable. Answers may vary."

URL: https://quizlet.com/463290343/portrait-of-the-artist-imagery-flash-cards/


[5] "What was the nickname Stephens friends gave to Father Dolan? Baldyhead Dolan. Who chose to take a flogging over expulsion from the Clongowes? Corrigan. ... What did Stephen not feel when he was performing the play? Stage Fright. How does Stephen portray his role in the play? Comically."

URL: https://quizlet.com/461443411/a-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man-questions-flash-cards/


[6] "Stephen decides not to join the priesthood because: a. He does not want to spend time with Father Dolan. c. To Stephen a priests life is too cold and orderly. b. He brothers and sisters are counting on his financial help after he graduates from the university. d. None of the above 2 See answers Advertisement monikaVT12"

URL: https://brainly.com/question/16150656


[7] "Summary of the Novel. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man covers the childhood and adolescence of Stephen Dedalus. We see him, over the course of the novel, grow from a little boy to a young ..."

URL: https://www.enotes.com/topics/portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man


[8] "Stephen finally acknowledges his feelings of sexuality, and he also acknowledges his own moral imperfections, as well as the moral imperfections of people around him. He becomes cynical about those who profess to have a flawless faith and begins to use his intellect and logic in order to dissect spiritual matters."

URL: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/p/a-portrait-of-the-artist-as-a-young-man/character-analysis/stephen-dedalus


[9] "Brooks became an instant hero in the South, and supporters sent him many replacement canes. He was vilified in the North and became a symbol of the stereotypically inflexible, uncompromising..."

URL: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/southern-congressman-attacks-northern-senator


[10] "(f) What ultimately happened in Stephens life when he was unjustly caned by Father Dolan? Group-C Q3. Answer any four questions, each within 200 words. Marks-10x4=40 (a) What kind of picture do you find about marriage and female sexuality in Tom Jones? (b) Give a Justification of the title of the novel Pride and Prejudice."

URL: http://osou.ac.in/docs2/2019JUNE/MAEG/MEG-03.pdf