Portrait - theme

James Joyce references flight throughout the duration of his novel. Within the character of Stephen Dedalus, there is always a longing to escape his contrived life in Ireland and project himself into a world where is able to challenge his mind as well as others around him. Stephen identifies as being entrapped in a society that does not understand him, and with every chance they get, they try drawing him in closer to their world with the appearance of good; "The preacher began to speak in a quiet friendly tone. His face was kind and he joined gently the fingers of each hand, forming a frail cage by the union of their tips" (137). Not agreeing with the church and their idea of sin puts Stephen at constant odds. He once believed in their teachings, but through maturation, he was able to conjure his own ideas about life and religion. Although this may not seem like an important action created by the Preacher, he is symbolizing through his hands the entrapment of Stephen. The Preacher is aware of his authority and his influence over Stephen, and he tries using that to "scare" him into accepting the ways of the church opposed to Stephen embracing and accepting that mentality.
By Stephen recognizing a "cage" created by the tips of the Preacher's fingers, it also confirms how he identifies with flight through birds. "An ecstasy of flight made radiant his eyes...His throat ached with a desire to cry aloud, the cry of a hawk or eagle on high, to cry piercingly of his deliverance to the winds. This was the call of life to his soul not the dull gross voice of the world of duties and despair, not the inhuman voice that had called him to the pale service of the altar. An instant of wild flight had delivered him and the cry of triumph which his lips withheld cleft his brain" (183-184). Stephen does not want to escape, he needs to. He recognizes himself as a caged bird that is being held back from his capabilities, being held captive by his own doing because he must take the necessary steps in order to free himself. Through growing and living, he is able to see that he will only accomplish what he limits himself to, if he just frees himself from that captivity, his achievements will be endless. With each new stage of the book, Stephen is breaking further and further away, spreading his wings like Daedalus.