Synopsis of The Salvation of Stephen Dedalus

ACT I

Scene i

Simon brings Stephen to Clongowes, a prestigious Jesuit boarding school. Simon is unaware of how even a hand holding might have consequences in this environment. Some school boys interrogate him about his father. The flow of time might be misleading here be careful because it will jump ahead with each scene.

Scene ii

 Stephen is in a classroom; everyone writes their themes. Prefect comes for an inspection and is not happy with the student’s progress.

Scene iii

After the Christmas Dinner the family gathers. Mrs. Riordan and Mr. Casey have an argument about politics and religion in front of young Stephen. In vain Stephen’s mother tries to heal the atmosphere.

Scene iv

2 – 3 years later. Simon cannot afford to send Stephen to Clongowes anymore. The family fortunes and income have declined drastically. During this time Stephen stays at home. He day dreams a lot; his mind is often far away and this annoys Simon. The gap between father and son widens. They move to Dublin; Stephen doesn’t like the city.

Scene v

Dublin siphons off Stephen inside its bowels; it is a new realm for Stephen especially with his relationships with the other sex. At a young age he encounters prostitutes and we see his relationship with Emma. His peers bully him about his views on literature and his relationship with Emma.

Scene vi

Joyce and Stephen in a dream like moment connect.  Simon, Johnny, and Stephen are in an ale house. Johnny is an old friend of Simon’s and they talk about their glorious past but Stephen seems not interested. His distance to his father increases even more.

Scene vii

Stephen is in a classroom with other students. The Rector announces the commencing of the retreat. In this retreat they will honor Saint Francis Xavier, a very important figure in Jesuit ideology. During this retreat students hear a series of sermons designed in Jesuit principles. Stephen is symbolically fallen and trapped.

  

ACT II

Scene i

Rector continues to talk about hell; his descriptions are extremely vivid for Stephen. Stephen’s imagination is powerful and the descriptions of Hell affect him deeply.

Scene ii

Lucky has a conversation with Stephen about sins of impurity. Lucky asks Stephen the question: Is God just?

Scene iii

After the conversation with Lucky, Stephen goes to confess to another Priest. He doesn’t want to confess his sins of impurity to his regular Priest. His confession shocks the priest. After the confession Stephen and Lucky meets again. Stephen is in a state of inner peace because his confession grants God’s grace to him. Now he has to work to remain in grace and not to slip again. Lucky explores on the notion of to sin over and over and confessing it all the time; he is worried that the confession might lose its validity.

Scene iv

Rector asks Stephen whether he wants to join the priesthood or not.

Scene v

Stephen encounters his school mates on the shore. He sees a bird girl; the vision causes him to experience an epiphany and finally he decides to pursue a life dedicated to art.
Scene vi

Stephen and his close friend Mulligan talk about Stephen’s future plans to leave Ireland.

Scene vii
Professor, students, and Stephen argue about faith and scientific explanation on natural phenomena.

Scene viii

McCann ushers other students and sets up his petition table about universal peace for signatures. He wants Stephen to be more active in political matters which Stephen refuses. As Lucky starts talking, the time stops in the back stage. In this dream like moment Stephen remembers Lawton’s story; after the story time returns back to present. Stephen leaves.

Ahmet Can Vargun (ELIT III)