In "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man", the main character, Stephen Dedalus has a life long desire to find a father figure. Not finding it within his own home he is forced to look out among the other men who play intricate roles in his life. Again and again Stephen is faced with the disappointment of a potential father figure letting him down. It is not until the end of the book, …showed first 75 words of 1226 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1226 total…figure. "Old father, old artificer, stand me now and ever in good stead"(225). Old artificer refers to Dedalus, of Greek mythology. On the last page Stephen writes to Dedalus, his true father figure. Stephen looking back over his life and realizing who his true father is helps him to soar and finally become a true artist. Work Cited: Joyce, James. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2004.