Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Lesson Plan

How does the theme of entrapment and escape resolve itself in Chapter 5?

In the novel's final chapter, we see the final development and resolution of escape and imprisonment, one of the major themes throughout Portrait. Stephen at last becomes fully aware that Ireland is a trap for him: in his discussion with Davin, he says that it is the sow that devours its own offspring. Stephen feels that Ireland restricts his independence from too many directions to allow him to stay any longer, if he wishes to become the person he seeks to become.

Ask students to think back to when we first begin to see Stephen's realization of this truth: it is not until he begins to liken...