“You talk to me of nationality, language, religion. I shall try to fly by those nets” (Portrait, 182). Stephen saw nationality as a “net,” meaning that it would halt the progression of his personal identity. While nationality, language, and religion are stated as three separate categories, an extreme form of nationality can overwhelmingly influence all three. Nations tend to have a national language, and may even at times have a national religion. If one feels that their given language and religion are superior to all others, this is when nationalism creates a dangerous prejudice. Portrait represents nationalism as pressing preferred languages, “idées reçues,” and religions onto people in order to push personal agendas held by “elitist” or
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Countries will set state religions in order to create a set of moral beliefs for their people. This also creates prejudices against those who do not accept the “country wide religion.” Cheng expresses this idea by stating, “Stephen thinks of the church precisely in terms of militaristic and imperial rule” (395). Meaning, that he sees it as a way to control the people. There are numerous examples of how Stephen was controlled by the moral beliefs set by the religion of his country, but one could also see signs of aggression shown throughout the book when one opposed the religious system. One example shown in the book was when a man named Temple opposed the religion held by his country he was met with aggression (178-179). One could say that his outspokenness about this religion could get him into real trouble, which is why the idea that a state set church is “militaristic” and has “imperial rule.” In some countries one can find that the “church” or its people have their own set of penal laws. While one may not agree to the moral laws set in place, they still must follow them, sometimes because they fear for their life. Religion pushed by a group of “elitist” can take away the religious freedom of choice but also the power of choice in being an individual. With the control a nationally set religion can have on the moral standards of people, it has the ability to take away one’s right to be an
Countries will set state religions in order to create a set of moral beliefs for their people. This also creates prejudices against those who do not accept the “country wide religion.” Cheng expresses this idea by stating, “Stephen thinks of the church precisely in terms of militaristic and imperial rule” (395). Meaning, that he sees it as a way to control the people. There are numerous examples of how Stephen was controlled by the moral beliefs set by the religion of his country, but one could also see signs of aggression shown throughout the book when one opposed the religious system. One example shown in the book was when a man named Temple opposed the religion held by his country he was met with aggression (178-179). One could say that his outspokenness about this religion could get him into real trouble, which is why the idea that a state set church is “militaristic” and has “imperial rule.” In some countries one can find that the “church” or its people have their own set of penal laws. While one may not agree to the moral laws set in place, they still must follow them, sometimes because they fear for their life. Religion pushed by a group of “elitist” can take away the religious freedom of choice but also the power of choice in being an individual. With the control a nationally set religion can have on the moral standards of people, it has the ability to take away one’s right to be an