Feminist Chriticism

“A few pages later the masculine competition of Clongowes again forces Stephen to yearn for the womb… He longed to lay his head on his mother’s lap” (25-26)

When Stephen is being dropped off by his parents, his mother kisses him and tells him to be careful with the older boys. On the other hand, his father provides him with money. Here a difference is seen between thee female and the male. The father gives him money because he knows how bad the competition between males can be. Money is something that will help Stephen survives in his school. This is when Stephen begins to dislike the fact that his mother protects him. Now that he has to protect himself, all he can do is look for comfort in other “womb” like places.