My first passage is that on (on Page 121, second paragraph – starting at “Nor was that all”). This passage is a continuation to Stephen’s train of thought of his future after death. Convinced he would go to hell for his sins, this passage describes Stephen’s perception of God and his power, as God travels from the heavens to banish him to hell. There is an immediate change from the paragraph before to this one, as the sentences are short and staccato like (Nor was that all, the last day had come, doomsday was at hand.), which catch the reader’s attention, while creating a sense for foreboding and predicting the arrival of something big and powerful. Joyce then uses a simile when he compares “the stars of heaven were falling down upon the earth like the figs cast by the fig tree which the wind has shaken”. Not only does this contribute to explaining Stephen’s perspective of an Almighty God, it also somewhat foreshadows Stephen’s future after Judgment Day, as he believes he like the stars will also fall in depths of Hell, when God casts him out, who is represented by the vigorous wind. The bible is referred to in this passage as well, when the sun is metaphorically compared to “sackcloth of hair” (6th line in the paragraph). The wearing of sackcloth of hair in the bible was associated with repentance, which is what Stephan feels this entire chapter as he regrets every sin he committed. It is interesting to note, Joyce’s diction of bloodred as opposed to just merely red. “The moon was bloodred” literally means an eclipse, which could symbolize the darkness and end about cover Stephen’s life. Another aspect of looking at the symbolism is Hell, bloodred is a color often associated with Hell, and this represents the fear that Stephen has of being eternally tormented in Hell’s depths. However, the bloodred can also be seen as Stephen’s moment of demise – when he entered his world of sin, as bloodred is the colour associated with the tainting of a virgin which is the first sin Stephen commits. Two instances of contrast are seen when Stephen describes the archangel Micheal, which is an allusion, as both glorious and terrible against the sky and again in the next sentence “one foot on the sea and one foot on the land”. This contrast is a direct representation of the difference between Stephen and the angels – the difference between their eternal life of purities and his conflicted mind of sins and regrets.
To conclude, James Joyce uses many literary motifs to illustrate and emphasize the progress of Stephen’s religious journey in this novel. Stephen’s path to self – discovery to recovery (for this particular chapter) is heavily influenced by his religious beliefs and upbringing. In addition Joyce employs symbolism, imagery and motifs in this chapter to bring a sense of reality to Stephen’s thoughts and adventures. Stephen’s change, while being complicated and difficult is well worth the painful experience of confessions, cleansing and starting anew.