Hidden Politics

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involving Dante Rioridan, Stephen's great-aunt, and Mr. Casey, a friend of the family.
---And can we not love our country then? asked Mr. Casey. Are we not to follow the man [Parnell] who was born to lead us?
---A traitor to his country! replied Dante…The priests were right to abandon him. The priests were always the true friends of Ireland. (201)


As seen, Mr. Casey first links national fervor to politics with the rationale that in order to love their country, the Irish must also follow a specific politician, Charles Parnell. Dante's reply furthers the integration of ideals by linking religion to politics, through stating that the priests were right in abandoning Parnell in the political arena. Religion and Irish nationality are also linked when Dante states that the priests were the "true friends" of Ireland. Later in the novel, when the director of his college approaches Stephen, religion is once again bonded ...

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appears that the bulk of the political references are made through symbols and commentary.
Undoubtedly, the most prominent political symbol is Charles Parnell. Stephen is first introduced to Parnell through Dante, who "told him that Parnell was a bad man" (184). Parnell then becomes the key to young Stephen's understanding of politics. "There were two sides in it: Dante was on one side and his father and Mr. Casey were on the other…" (p.184) Stephen delineates the sides according to who supports Parnell, and who does not. Another symbolic reference to politics that often appears is found in reference to the colors green and maroon. First appearing as brushes in Dante's press, ...

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