The social setting's role is to show us that Stephen does not belong with the other men in the pulp woods, there is a challenging traditionally masculine influence on Stephen, one that comes from the men around him, and from the fact that Stephen is not traditionally masculine. You can see this at the beginning of the second paragraph of the text. “He thought disparagingly of his own willowy fifteen-year-old body. The more he observed the easy strength of these men, the oftener he worked himself into aching exhaustion at the end of a pulp saw, the more certain he was that he could never become a man.” The quote expresses the contrast between Stephen and the men around him. He is not like the other men in the pulp woods. He isn’t strong or independent, …show more content…
And find speech without purpose like blowing on ice cream to cool it down, idiotic. “Like everything else they did, their card playing was serious and purposeful. They spoke only when they made their bids.” We can also see from this quote that Stephen doesn’t really identify with the other men. When referring to them, he always says “they” or “them”, instead of saying “us” or “we”. The difference between him and the social setting is further shown in the text “In a way, Stephen reflected, it was fun to be with the Polack.” Stephens joy of being in the Polack’s company further shows his difference from the other men, who do not like the Polack and do not want to associate with him in any way. It is this difference that sets Stephen apart from the other men, he resonates more with the Polack than the men of the pulp woods. The contrast between Stephen and the men of pulp woods is there to convey the different natures of different men, and the spectrum of strength. Stephen is more so like his friend the polack. While his father is like the other men in the pulp woods. This contrast questions the traditionally masculine. What the duty of a man is, what the purpose of a man is. Should there be different