the story accompanies him passing his school time until he continues his study to a university. Stephen enters a school named Clongowes School. It is a school for boys
only. The school obliges all students to live in the dormitories apart from home and parents. Clongowes is managed by the Society of Jesus, the community of Catholic
priests who are well-known as the Jesuits. Clongowes is a real school in Ireland founded by Father Peter Kenny in 1814.
Along his time of study in formal education institutions, Stephen grows. Therefore, the description about his characteristics is divided into two parts. The first
one represents Stephen’s characteristics during school time and the second part shows the change after he graduates and continues to the university.
a. Characteristics of Stephen Dedalus during School Period
Using the theories of M. J. Murphy and M. H. Abrams, there are some characteristics of Stephen Dedalus that can be revealed.
a.1. Clever
Stephen Dedalus does a great job in his school period. Since he has very few distractions from around, he can concern more with his study.
Stephen felt his own face red too, thinking of all the bets about who would get first place in elements, Jack Lawton or he. Some weeks Jack Lawton got the
card for first and some weeks he got the card for first Joyce, 1992: 7.
The situation in the quotation happens when Stephen’s class has ‘the hour of sums’. Their teacher gives some questions to be answered by the students. Stephen
and his friend Jack Lawton compete in the class discussion. Both are often in the first position of the class. It means that Stephen is clever that he can be the cleverest
student in every lesson. In the story, Stephen cannot finish his study at Clongowes due to the financial
problem of the family. His father then sends him to a cheaper school called Belvedere. At this school, Stephen keeps up his good reputation as a clever student.
Stephen, though in deference to his reputation for essay writing he had been elected secretary to the gymnasium, had had no part in the first section of the
programme but in the play which formed the second section he had the chief part, that of a farcial pedagogue 1992:55.
Stephen seems to have a good ability of writing that his essays are known well by the school. Besides, he is often chosen to take an important position in student
activities. Since basically Stephen is clever, this characteristic does not gradually change
when he enters the university. He remains a clever boy. The explanation about this is presented in the part talking about his characteristics in university.
a.2. Quiet
Stephen Dedalus is a bit shy. He has only few friends at Clongowes. To these few friends, Stephen rarely talks. He mostly thinks and seldom lets it out.
Stephen looked at the faces of the fellows but they were all looking across the playground. He wanted to ask somebody about it. What did that mean about
smugging in the square? Why did the five fellows out of the higher line run away for that? It was a joke, he thought 1992: 31.
