A Portrait of the Artist as A Young Man

This novel tied in very nicely with my big question because a lot of it had to do with introvert versus extrovert. This opened up a whole new perspective regarding children's view's of themselves. A great portion of Stephen's childhood is based on his lack of knowledge of the world, of religion, and of politics. Joyce's portrayal of this through Stephen's absorption of ideas from his family and surroundings shows how much he wants to understand, but cannot.
To me, it seems that children who are afraid of others more fear what they do not understand. This is why they seclude themselves and fear socialization. But we must remember as the famous proverb goes, "There is nothing to fear, only to be understood".
However, Stephen also grows up to be much of an introvert, but as readers we see that there is in fact a lot going on in his head. Another possible reason for one's lack of socialization could be his feeling of superiority to others or knowledge of something he feels that others cannot obtain. For example, Stephen's understanding of sheer perspective, of his senses, and of one's duty to satisfy his his desires stood far above his peers along with this learning capacity. He simply did not fit in with the others. They did not understand his capabilities and his needs because they were all "normal" and he was not.
It is important to realize that even in the modern day school system, so many kids are socially left behind in an attempt to academically jump ahead. A brilliant 11 year old may be able to solve high school calculus problems, but because of his talent, may seclude himself from peers who do not value his intelligence. He therefore leaves the social piece of maturing out of his box, the piece that is so crucial in developing a well rounded personality.
What would we call Stephen in today's world: bipolar, depressed, autistic? Does his condition even have a name, or has he developed a sickness in the "love of the beautiful". Small children do not understand their passions, but having mature adults understand them, unlike Stephen's parents who scorned his dreams and lifestyle, makes their developments into adolescents much more stable and blostered.

Crime and Punishment Connection

In Crime and Punishment the social conditions of the city often reflect the manners in which individual characters interact with one another. Not many children appear in the novel, but the minor character Polenka maintains a vital connection with Raskolnikov.

As a child, she is very friendly and open to Raskolnikov's pain and suffering, as well as releasing her own. During her time of suffering, her mind has begun to "absorb" all the possibilities of a solution to the financial problems and physical illness of her family. Polenka has been forced to take on the role of an older child; she has grown up very quickly because her mother is sick, her father is often out of the house drinking, and her older sister Sonia is away trying to support the family with her profession.

Along with Polenka, Sonia has been a main pillar within the family and her role being this main financial support system has been one she's forced to take because of her father's drinking. At only the age of 18, she is supporting a family of 4: father, mother, and two siblings. Her acts of prostitution and closeness to God have made her a more selfless person and allowed her to understand the true meaning of adulthood.