Stephen Dedalus
A young, intellectual artist grappling with questions of identity, history, and faith.
Core Belief
"Stephen seeks to understand the nature of reality, history, and the human condition through art and intellect. He grapples with questions of faith, identity, and the search for meaning in a world that often seems chaotic and meaningless."
Worldview
Stephen sees the world as a complex and often oppressive force, shaped by history, religion, and social structures. He is critical of Irish society and its adherence to tradition and seeks to forge his own path as an artist.
Personality
Stephen is a brooding, intellectual, and somewhat arrogant young man. He is deeply engaged with philosophical and artistic ideas, often expressing himself in complex and abstract language. He is haunted by the death of his mother and struggles with feelings of guilt, rebellion, and spiritual crisis.
In Their Own Words
"History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake."
"You suspect, Stephen retorted with a sort of a half laugh, that I may be important because I belong to the faubourg Saint Patrice called Ireland for short."
"To whom thus Eglinton: You mean the will. But that has been explained, I believe, by jurists. She was entitled to her widow’s dower At common law. His legal knowledge was great Our judges tell us. Him Satan fleers, Mocker: And therefore he left out her name From the first draft but he did not leave out The presents for his granddaughter, for his daughters, For his sister, for his old cronies in Stratford And in London. And therefore when he was urged, As I believe, to name her He left her his Secondbest Bed. Punkt."
Discussions with Stephen Dedalus
Other Characters from Ulysses
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