What is the plot of novel A portrait of an artist as a young man?

"A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" by James Joyce is a bildungsroman that chronicles the growth and development of the protagonist, Stephen Dedalus. The novel is divided into five chapters, each depicting key stages in Stephen's life.Childhood: The novel begins with Stephen's early years, his experiences in school, and his interactions with family members, particularly his devout Catholic mother. Through his encounters with authority figures and his exposure to religious teachings, Stephen starts to question his faith and the constraints it imposes on his freedom.Adolescence: As Stephen enters adolescence, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with Catholicism and the moral codes of society. He indulges in romantic fantasies and intellectual pursuits, forming friendships with fellow students and engaging in debates about nationalism, religion, and art.Awakening: Stephen experiences a profound intellectual and spiritual awakening, marked by his rejection of Catholicism and his embrace of aestheticism and individualism. He declares his intention to forge his own path as an artist, despite the disapproval of his family and society.Exile: Feeling isolated and misunderstood, Stephen leaves Ireland to pursue his artistic ambitions abroad. He encounters new challenges and experiences in Europe, grappling with poverty, loneliness, and the pressures of artistic creation. Despite the hardships, Stephen remains committed to his vocation as a writer.Return: In the final chapter, Stephen returns to Ireland, reconciling with his past and reaffirming his identity as an artist. He confronts the ghosts of his childhood and the cultural and political forces that shaped him, finding inspiration in the landscape and people of his homeland.Throughout the novel, Joyce employs stream-of-consciousness narrative techniques and experimental prose style to convey Stephen's inner thoughts and emotional experiences. "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" is a seminal work of modernist literature, exploring themes of identity, alienation, religion, and the nature of art.