Big Question with respect to Water For Elephants

This novel had many, many characters that each had a different answer to my big question. I will discuss the novel's protagonist, Jacob Jankowski. This novel is set up in an interesting way: a flashback format from a nursing home with 93 year old Jacob to his travels with the Benzini Brothers circus. But no matter what his situation, Jacob never stops short of seeking the truth in every situation. The novel begins with Jankowski fighting a neighboring man in his nursing home about the truth in carrying water for the elephants in a circus. Whether fighting about trivial things such as this or risking his life for Rosie the elephant and Marlena, his love, Jankowski is one of the truest characters to himself that I have ever read in any novel. He is the epitomy of moral righteousness and never, to my knowledge, did what was most physically convenient to get out of a situation.

Big Question with respect to Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man

My question is very interesting when pertaining to Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. When around other people and much moreso toward the beginning of the novel, Stephen certainly does what society considers to be most physically convenient (sleeping with prostitutes, etc...). There are even hints throughout the book that he is trying to force his path instead of allowing it to find him such as during his search for his calling and his struggle with the church. But ultimately, I find that Stephen rejects those societal standards and chooses to chart his own path through life. Obviously, this is not taking the easy road out, but instead he is willing to struggle and fight for his dreams and his writing. Although Portrait of the Artist doesn't exactly fit with my question, this is what I gathered from Stephen's maturation process. Does anyone have any comments? I'd love to hear feedback because this question doesn't fit exactly with this novel!