The Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man

The first chapter of the novel shows Stephen's artistic qualities by showing Stephen's concern with beauty and words. For example, the rose and the word wine. He has an extreme interest with the sound of language which sets the stage for his artistic abilites to develop.
Joyce really critiques Catholicism in the first chapter he guides us down the path of his mixed feelings. Stephen is more or less confused as what to believe because he is getting so many mixed signals. This is the begining of his extreme religious beliefs.
Does Stephen become an artist ? I do not think it is a matter of becoming an artist, I truly believe it is a gift. Stephen has already been given this gift so I believe it is a matter of using it. I believe he should be taken seriously because he will soon approach greatness. Stephen is in a transition phase to where he is learning how to use his gift. This will all soon work out for him.