Stephen has and the emotions she provokes in him are very real. “…As he brooded upon her image, a strange unrest crept into his blood.” (p.64). “…but a premonition which led him on told him that this image would, without any overt act of his, encounter him… and in that moment of supreme tenderness he would be transfigured. He would fade into something impalpable under her eyes and then in a moment, he would be transfigured. Weakness and timidity and inexperience would fall from him that magic moment.” (p.65). Stephen realizes that some transformation is going to take place, and Joyce emphasizes the words “transfigured” and “moment” to indicate the kind of impact it will have on Stephen.At this point in the novel, Stephen attributes this “premonition” to his attraction to young Emma Clery. “…Amid the music and laughter her glance traveled to his corner, flattering, taunting, searching, exciting his heart.” “…Sprays of her fresh warm breath flew gaily above her cowled head and her shoes tapped blithely on the glassy road.” (p. 69). As they wait for the last tram from a Christmas party “His heart danced upon her movements like a cork upon a tide.” Joyce carefully uses these words to ease the reader into the transition to sensual imagery to portray females. These words convey Stephen’s feelings of excitement, and a new conflict arises within him. He who still believes in the Catholic view of divine women now feels troubled over his growing sexual drives. Stephen realizes that she is flirting with him by the way she “urges her vanities” yet he is tempted to call her on it. He wants to hold on to her and kiss her and he associates the whole situation with the way in which Eileen had suddenly run down the path in a peal of laughter hoping he would chase her. The conflict within Stephen w...
