Stephen is finally a bit older and, as they say, with age comes wisdom, right? My answer is no. In Stephen's case, with age comes an even higher level of pretentiousness and melodrama. However, he has always been different and a bit special, so his actions in this chapter were not completely surprising.
The interactions between Stephen and other people are some of the best ways to notice how his thoughts have changed and how he views others and the world in which they live together. Several of these interactions are scattered throughout the chapter, helping us see into the mind of our main character.
For example, one important moment is the encounter and conversation between Stephen and the dean of studies. A particular moment in their (very awkward) conversation is when Stephen uses the word "tundish", an Irish word, and the dean is unable to understand it. This moment highlights the separation between Irish and English culture, and Stephen recognizes the difference immediately. He sadly thinks about how his experience in university is dull and believes that other people are slow and foolish.
Stephens interactions with his family also show that he has become even more estranged from them. His mother and father are disappointed with his actions and labels him as a failure, both religiously and academically.
In this way, we see that Stephen's highly intelligent, but also pretentious, nature separates him from his peers and school members, while his decisions separate him from his parents. However, at the end of the book, when he sees himself in the birds who are wandering in the sky freely, his separation from others shows his own independence and ability to leave his previous life. It is with this freedom that Stephen is able to make the decision to leave his country to seek a new life and higher enlightenment.
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