Faubourg Saint Patrice - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

mother because of his apostasy. The connection of Stephen's motherto the Catholic
faith is an interesting juxtaposition to Stephen's contemplation of Church heresiarchs,
two of whom--Arius and Sabellius--adopted heretical perspectives on the trinity and the
relationship between God the father, and Jesus, the son (1.650-65; Bokenkotter 59;
Gifford 26). Thus, in this manner Joyce furthers his critical discussion of paternity
which becomes one of the dominant forces of the novel and, simultaneously, establishes
a dichotomy between maternal religious devotion and paternal heresys. Stephen
struggles in the chasm between the two.
He manifests this struggle through his repeated reference to "Agenbite of Inwit,"
a Middle English phrase which translates to "remorse of conscience" and alludes to
"Ayenbite of Inwyt," an obscure "medieval manual of virtues and vices" (Gifford 22).
Curiously, this reference is absent from A Portrait, suggesting that Stephen has read it
during the interlude between the two works and after his apparent rejection of the
Church. Throughout Stephen's day, "Agenbite of Inwit" becomes analogous to a mental
ejaculation, somewhat akin to a "mea culpa"--an apparent attempt to extinguish his guilt
by identifying its source. Foucault describes this end of an individual's internalization of
institutional power: ". . . the inmates should be caught up in a power situation of which
they are themselves the bearers" (Discipline 201). As portrayed by Joyce, Stephen's
conscience becomes the bearer of the Church's power. This first emerges during the
breakfast scene in "Telemachus" as the conversation turns to Stephen's lack of bathing.
Referring to his roommate, Mulligan comments to Haines: "The unclean bard makes a
point of washing once a month" (1.475). Reminded of his hydrophobia, Stephen's
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