Stephen Dedalus

Stephen Dedalus is a complex protagonist, portrayed as a sensitive, proud, and intellectually gifted young man. His journey is one of attempting to navigate the tumultuous political, theological, and economic landscape of Ireland. Stephen is depicted as an individual struggling to reconcile his own beliefs and ambitions with the influences of his environment, particularly those of faith, morality, and art. Ultimately, he feels alienated from his nation, religion, and family, prompting his decision to leave Ireland in pursuit of artistic fulfillment. His journey follows him from childhood into early adulthood, capturing his evolution from a six-year-old to an eighteen-year-old, as he grows through and ultimately beyond the constraints of the Catholic Church. Stephen dreams of becoming an artist, reflecting his name's allusion to Daedalus, the mythical artificer.

His interactions with various characters, including his friends at University College such as Lynch, to whom he explains his theories on art, and Cranly, his confidant with whom he discusses his inability to find a vocation within the Church, reveal different facets of his character and his aspirations. Romantic interests, like Eileen Vance and E——— C——— (Emma Clery), embody his youthful romantic fantasies and artistic inspirations.

Simon Dedalus

Simon Dedalus is depicted as Stephen's father, a genial and loquacious man who staunchly supports the nationalist leader Charles Stewart Parnell. Despite his engaging personality and patriotic fervor, Simon's life is marked by a series of failures across various professions, including stints as a medical student, actor, investor, and tax-gatherer. His financial decline and self-delusion contribute significantly to Stephen's growing sense of disillusionment and unrest. Simon is almost a caricature of the eloquent yet intemperate Irishman, often drinking to excess, which further impacts Stephen's perception of him.

He originates from the city of Cork and is portrayed as a humorous and friendly character. However, his diminishing wealth and inability to succeed in his ventures cast a shadow over his family life. Simon Dedalus' dynamic with other characters, like Mr. Casey and Dante, also illustrates the ideological divides within the family, particularly during heated debates about Parnell.

Mrs. Dedalus

Mrs. Dedalus is a quiet, religious woman who remains in the background of the narrative, her presence more felt than seen. Her deep faith contrasts sharply with Stephen's repudiation of religious belief, causing her significant anxiety and grief. She wishes for Stephen to observe his Easter duties, highlighting her adherence to religious tradition. Her subdued character reflects the broader struggles of her family and serves as a poignant reminder of the domestic pressures and expectations placed upon her.

Mrs. Dante Riordan

Mrs. Dante Riordan, often called "Dante," is a fierce advocate for Catholicism and a staunch opponent of any anti-Church sentiment. Her vehement defense of her beliefs often puts her at odds with others, particularly Simon Dedalus, leading to intense debates that leave a lasting impression on young Stephen. Her role in the household is significant, as she helps educate Stephen, instilling in him a strong sense of geography and religious doctrine. Her condemnation of Parnell, despite her desires for liberation, underscores her complex relationship with Irish nationalism.

Eileen Vance

Eileen Vance represents Stephen’s childhood love, yet societal boundaries prevent him from engaging with her freely due to her Protestant faith. This early experience with Eileen adds to Stephen's sense of alienation and his awareness of religious division within his community. His association of her with purity is reflected in his thoughts of her "white hands," symbolizing the unattainable and idealized aspects of his early romantic notions.

E——— C———

Referred to in various texts as Emma Clery, E——— C——— is less of a fully fleshed-out character and more an embodiment of Stephen's romantic fantasies. She serves as the muse for his love poems, encapsulating his idealistic visions of love and art. Her elusive presence in the narrative mirrors the intangible and often unattainable nature of Stephen's artistic and romantic aspirations.

Davin

Davin is a student at University College and a friend of Stephen Dedalus. His character is rooted in athleticism and a deep emotional connection to Irish mythology and the Catholic Church. Davin epitomizes the traditional values of country, religion, and romanticized Irish history, elements from which Stephen seeks to distance himself as he forges his own path.

Lynch

Lynch, another student at University College, provides a foil to Stephen with his irreverent demeanor. Their discussions, particularly during a walk in the rain, delve into Stephen's philosophical views on art. Lynch's interactions with Stephen help illuminate the protagonist’s complex relationship with aesthetics and morality, offering insights into Joyce's exploration of these themes.

Cranly

Cranly is a fellow student and confidant of Stephen, serving as an intellectual sparring partner and sounding board for Stephen's existential and religious dilemmas. Their conversations reveal Stephen's skepticism towards the Church's teachings and highlight his desire to break free from societal constraints. Cranly's role is pivotal in Stephen's decision-making process regarding his future and his eventual departure from Ireland.

Father Arnall

Father Arnall is a Jesuit teacher at Clongowes Wood School, known for his impactful sermons. His eloquent oration on sin and Lucifer’s fall during a religious retreat at Belvedere College profoundly affects Stephen, inciting a personal religious crisis. This experience leads Stephen to temporarily renounce worldly pleasures and consider the priesthood, showcasing the intense influence of religious authority on his life.

Father Dolan

Father Dolan is the prefect of studies at Clongowes Wood School. Known for his strict disciplinary methods, he unjustly punishes Stephen for being unable to study due to broken glasses. This incident marks Stephen's first act of rebellion against ecclesiastical authority, igniting his burgeoning sense of individualism and resistance.

Uncle Charles

Uncle Charles, Stephen’s great-uncle, is depicted as a genial, robust old man. During Stephen's early years, he accompanies him on errands, representing a stable and enduring family presence. Charles's efforts to maintain calm during familial tensions, particularly during the Christmas dinner argument, portray his desire to preserve family harmony.

Nasty Roche

Nasty Roche is a student at Clongowes Wood School, known for his teasing comments about Stephen’s name. His mockery gives Stephen an early sense of alienation and helps deepen his self-awareness and introspection.

Additional Characters

The narrative also mentions numerous minor characters who populate Stephen’s world, each contributing to the rich tapestry of his experiences. Figures like Mr. Casey, a friend of Simon Dedalus, and Mr. Harford, Stephen’s writing teacher, flesh out the social and educational environment influencing Stephen. Characters such as Vincent Heron, Stephen's rival at Belvedere, and Father Conmee, the rector at Clongowes, further illustrate the diverse perspectives and challenges Stephen encounters in his formative years.

Among all the characters in the novel, Stephen Dedalus stands out as the only one whose portrayal is fully fleshed out. We are given access to his deepest thoughts, memories, and sensations throughout the story. In contrast, the other characters are presented only to the extent that they impact Stephen. Joyce's depiction of Stephen is intricate, encouraging readers to empathize with him while also prompting critical views and even amusement at his expense. We are likely to feel sympathy for the young boy who is unjustly punished by Father Dolan for not copying his Latin themes or who falls ill after being pushed into a ditch by Wells. However, our sympathy wanes when considering the pious youth whose exaggerated devotions reveal significant egotism and whose abstract musings on love have no constructive influence on his relationships. Similarly, the pretentious university student who pontificates his aesthetic theories at length to an unwilling and disinterested Lynch, who makes jokes that the pedantic and humorless Stephen disregards, is less endearing.

Stephen often interprets his life as a heroic quest to liberate himself from the constraints he believes his hometown imposes on him—the "nets" of politics, religion, and family. Yet, Joyce subtly undermines Stephen's inflated self-image by frequently highlighting the flaws and shortcomings that Stephen himself fails to recognize.

Stephen aligns himself with the classical hero he is named after but resembles Icarus, who flew too close to the sun and fell into the sea, more than Daedalus, whose ingenuity enabled him to escape Minos's prison. Stephen’s real father, Simon Dedalus, plays a significant role in the early parts of the novel, and Stephen's growing detachment from him reveals much about his increasing emotional isolation from his birthplace. Simon Dedalus is a prominent figure in Stephen’s youth, as seen in the novel’s opening chapter: his story about the moocow begins the novel, and his advice to Stephen as he sends him off to Clongowes ("never peach on a fellow") is taken by the son as vital and unquestionable. However, as Stephen matures, his father is seen in a less favorable light. During the disastrous Christmas dinner, Simon Dedalus breaks down in tears over the death of Parnell, the role of the Roman Catholic Church in his leader’s downfall, and the frustration of his republican aspirations. By the time Stephen accompanies his father to Cork, Simon Dedalus is depicted as clinging to a nostalgic and alcohol-fueled vision of the past, while his present life disintegrates. By the novel’s end, Stephen views his father as little more than a mildly interesting specimen.

Stephen's mother may seem like a minor character in the novel, but she plays a crucial role in highlighting her son's flaws—his lack of basic kindness and his cruelty driven by a sense of superiority. She is prominently featured at the beginning of the book; however, this relationship fades as Stephen matures. Her steadfast Catholic beliefs become a point of contention after Stephen fiercely rejects the faith. His education further alienates her, causing her to become distrustful of him. Unlike Stephen's father, who is depicted increasingly negatively, his mother remains a sympathetic figure. Her attempts to mediate during the Christmas dinner conflict between Simon, Dante, and Mr. Casey hint at her lifelong struggle with a challenging husband under difficult circumstances. Cranly comments to Stephen, "Your mother must have gone through a good deal of suffering," a remark that significantly does not come from Stephen himself.

Similar to his parents, the initially affectionate portrayal of Dante in the novel undergoes a drastic change. Stephen's earliest memories depict her as a generous, motherly figure, but her two velvet-backed brushes—maroon for Michael Davitt and green for Parnell—foreshadow the religious and political conflicts that will mar the family's Christmas dinner in later years. In that scene, Dante is shown as cruelly inflexible in her condemnation of the fallen Parnell and her loyalty to the Church that contributed to his downfall. Stephen mirrors this inflexibility later, both during his devout phase and in his subsequent refusal to make any concessions to the Church that his mother holds dear.

During Stephen's time at Clongowes, the Jesuit priests who run the school, especially the rector Father Conmee, his Latin teacher Father Arnall, and the strict prefect of studies Father Dolan, who punishes Stephen harshly and unjustly, stand out the most. This injustice is seemingly offset by Stephen's encounter with the benevolent authority of Father Conmee, which leaves a lasting impression on him and influences his later contemplation of joining the Roman Catholic priesthood.

As Stephen ages and becomes more self-centered, the characters around him—his fellow students Cranly, Dixon, Davin, Lynch, Temple, and MacCann—are relegated to the background, surfacing only during occasional conversations. Despite this, they help to reveal aspects of Stephen's character. Cranly provides a poignant insight into Stephen's mother's unhappy life while Stephen revels in his principled refusal to participate in the Easter rituals of her church. Davin, a naive and straightforward nationalist, serves as a contrast to Stephen. Though often bewildered and shocked by Stephen, Davin remains fond of him. The evident strength of these friendships suggests that the more positive aspects of Stephen's personality are underrepresented in this portrayal.

Also enveloped in the haze surrounding Stephen, but even more hidden within it, is the object of his youthful affection, a young woman known only by her initials, E.C. We first catch sight of her on the tram with Stephen, an experience he later distills into an imagist poem. Her absence at the Belvedere play deeply disappoints him. Years later, she inspires his villanelle and is mentioned in his diary entry on April 1 at the novel's conclusion. Given that E.C. is supposedly his main source of inspiration, the fact that his poem reveals nothing about her may suggest that Stephen's artistic journey is still incomplete.

Father Arnall

Father Arnall is a Jesuit priest who serves as a teacher at Clongowes Wood College, the first school Stephen Dedalus attends.

Mr. John Casey

Mr. Casey is a companion of Stephen Dedalus’s father, Simon Dedalus, in Chapter One. When Mr. Casey visits, young Stephen enjoys sitting nearby and observing “his dark fierce face.” Stephen also notes that “his dark eyes were never fierce and his slow voice was good to listen to.” Mr. Casey engages in a heated argument with Dante during Christmas, insisting that the Church should avoid political matters and leave Charles Stuart Parnell alone.

Uncle Charles

Charles is Stephen Dedalus’s great-uncle. He attends the family’s Christmas dinner in Chapter One but does not participate in the argument. He appears somewhat confused and only offers a few vague remarks to try to calm the situation. Uncle Charles is kind-hearted but slightly eccentric and ineffective. Later in the chapter, readers learn of his passing.

Father Conmee

Father Conmee is a Jesuit priest and the rector (principal) of Clongowes Wood College, Stephen Dedalus’s first school. In Chapter One, after Father Dolan punishes Stephen by striking his hands with a stick called a pandybat, Stephen’s friends encourage him to report the incident to Father Conmee. Despite his fear, Stephen gathers the courage to visit Father Conmee’s room. Contrary to Stephen’s and the reader’s expectations of anger, Father Conmee warmly receives Stephen and listens to his complaint with sympathy. This visit marks Stephen’s first act of independence and self-determination. Stephen’s father later reveals that Father Conmee mentioned the incident to him, and that both the rector and Father Dolan found it amusing.

Cranly

Cranly is a friend of Stephen Dedalus at University College, Dublin, and appears in Chapter Five as one of the four friends who attempt to tempt Stephen. Unlike Davin, Cranly is sophisticated and irreverent. Stephen finds Cranly’s accent and manner of speaking dull, describing it as “an echo of the quays of Dublin given back by a bleak decaying seaport” and his energy as “an echo of the sacred eloquence of Dublin given back flatly by a Wicklow pulpit.” Cranly embodies expedience, compromise, and hypocrisy. Beneath his bravado, Stephen senses a kind of despair within him.

Davin

Davin is a companion of Stephen Dedalus and a fellow student at University College, Dublin. He makes his appearance in Chapter Five, where he is one of the four friends attempting to persuade Stephen. Originating from the Irish countryside, Davin is depicted as a peasant. His manner of speaking includes both “rare phrases of Elizabethan English” and “quaintly turned versions of Irish idioms.” Physically robust and athletic, Davin is honest, straightforward, and sincere. He affectionately calls Stephen “Stevie.” In the narrative, Davin symbolizes Irish nationalism, a perspective that Stephen ultimately dismisses. Davin is also involved with the Gaelic League, an organization that promotes the revival of the Irish language and traditional Irish sports.

Dean of Studies

Stephen Dedalus engages in a discussion about art and beauty with the unnamed Dean of Studies at University College, Dublin. The Dean, a Jesuit priest and an Englishman, is depicted as kind and accessible. He exhibits a dry wit, noting that “We have the liberal arts and we have the useful arts.” The Dean acknowledges Stephen’s artistic nature and tells him that “the object of the artist is the creation of the beautiful. What the beautiful is is another question.”

Mrs. Dedalus

Stephen’s mother, whose first name is never revealed, appears several times in the story but remains less defined compared to her husband, Simon Dedalus. Like many other characters, she primarily exists in relation to Stephen. Her character is largely inspired by Joyce’s own mother, Mary Jane Murray.

Mr. Simon Dedalus

Simon Dedalus is Stephen’s father and is modeled after Joyce’s own father, John. Although Mr. Dedalus appears in only a few scenes, his presence is felt throughout the novel. He is generally portrayed as a good-natured man, but there is an underlying sense of failure about him. Known for his storytelling, Mr. Dedalus faces financial difficulties during the novel, which forces him to withdraw Stephen from Clongowes Wood College and move the family to a smaller home. When he takes Stephen to his hometown, Cork, in southwest Ireland, he entertains him with familiar stories. In a heart-to-heart moment, he advises Stephen to “mix with gentlemen.”

As Stephen matures, he feels a sense of embarrassment towards his father and distances himself from him. In Chapter Five, during a conversation with his friend Cranly, Stephen describes his father “glibly” as “a medical student, an oarsman, a tenor, an amateur actor, a shouting politician, a small landlord, a small investor, a drinker, a good fellow, a storyteller, somebody’s secretary, something in a distillery, a taxgatherer, a bankrupt, and at present a praiser of his own past.” This suggests that Stephen’s rejection of Ireland and his decision to pursue creative independence also entail rejecting his father and his father’s perceived failures.

Stephen Dedalus

Stephen Dedalus is the "artist" and "young man" referred to in the title. Unlike most fictional characters, he transcends the role of a typical protagonist. He is the central focus of the narrative, with every event filtered through his perception. His presence permeates every page.

The character is heavily inspired by Joyce himself. The name "Stephen Dedalus" carries symbolic weight. Saint Stephen was the first Christian martyr, executed for his beliefs. In Greek mythology, Dedalus was an inventor who created wings to escape from Crete; however, his son Icarus flew too close to the sun, causing the wings to melt and leading to his downfall. From the very first page, Stephen is depicted as sensitive, perceptive, intelligent, and curious. However, he also comes across as aloof, occasionally arrogant, and self-important. Despite his intellect, he often falls victim to his own self-deception.

Joyce's narrative is fragmented, lacking a traditional plot. Instead, the book presents a series of "portraits" of Stephen during pivotal moments of his young life. These range from his early days as an infant ("baby tuckoo") through various school experiences to his assertion of artistic independence at University College, Dublin. Stephen's growth is marked by his evolving awareness of the world and the novel's increasingly sophisticated language. His relationships with his family, peers, teachers, friends, religion, and country, as well as his engagement with language, form the core of the story.

Through a series of epiphanies and anti-epiphanies, Stephen alternately embraces and rejects different facets of his life. This process involves making challenging moral and aesthetic decisions that shape his character. A particularly revealing moment occurs during an episode in Cork, where Joyce describes Stephen as "proud and sensitive and suspicious, battling against the squalor of his life and against the riot of his mind." In the final chapter, Stephen tells his friend Cranly that he will now rely on "the only arms I allow myself to use—silence, exile, and cunning." The originality of Joyce's creation is underscored by the book's conclusion, which doesn't end with Stephen himself but with diary excerpts indicating his resolve to "go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race."

Father Dolan

Father Dolan is a Jesuit priest serving as the prefect of studies at Clongowes Wood College, the first school Stephen Dedalus attends. He punishes Stephen, who believes the punishment is unjust. Seeking redress, Stephen approaches the rector, Father Conmee, to report the incident. Father Conmee listens sympathetically and assures Stephen he will discuss the matter with Father Dolan. Stephen's act of defiance against Father Dolan wins him the admiration of his schoolmates and marks his first assertion of independence. Later in the narrative, Stephen’s father reveals that Father Conmee and Father Dolan had a hearty laugh over the incident.

Vincent Heron

Vincent Heron is a schoolmate and uneasy friend of Stephen Dedalus at Belvedere College. As two of the top students, their relationship is marked by rivalry. Heron's mockery of Stephen has a menacing undertone. Heron criticizes Stephen for claiming that Byron is the greatest poet, and with his friends, subjects Stephen to verbal and physical abuse. Despite this, Stephen stands his ground, refusing to concede that Tennyson is the superior poet. Heron also strikes Stephen twice on the leg with his cane, trying to make him admit his interest in a particular girl. Stephen often observes that Heron’s face is “beaked like a bird’s,” finding it peculiar that Vincent Heron has both a birdlike face and a bird’s name.

Lynch

Lynch is a fellow student and friend of Stephen Dedalus at University College, Dublin. Joyce describes him as having a reptilian appearance. Lynch engages in debates with Stephen about art and aesthetics, acting as a foil to Stephen. This dynamic allows Stephen (and by extension, Joyce) to elaborate on his artistic theories. Although Lynch appears interested in Stephen’s intellectual discourse, he lacks the ability to fully grasp or engage with Stephen’s ideas. While Stephen aspires to high artistic achievements, Lynch is content with the prospect of a stable job and a conventional life.

Mrs. Dante Riordan

Dante is introduced in the novel's opening page, where she and Uncle Charles applaud young Stephen's dancing. She introduces the themes of the Church and politics into the story. Stephen notes that Dante owns two brushes: “The brush with the maroon velvet back was for Michael Davitt, and the brush with the green velvet back was for Parnell.” These brushes carry symbolic significance.

During Christmas dinner at the Dedalus household, Dante engages in a heated argument with Mr. Casey. The dispute revolves around the Church's condemnation of the Irish nationalist leader, Charles Stuart Parnell, due to his affair with the married Kitty O'Shea. A devout Catholic, Dante insists that the Church was justified in denouncing the immoral Parnell, whom she labels “a traitor, an adulterer!” She believes the Irish should obey the bishops and priests, even if it means sacrificing the chance for independence. Mr. Casey, also a Catholic, deeply resents the Church's stance on Parnell, arguing that the clergy should refrain from meddling in politics. The argument becomes more intense, culminating in Dante storming out of the room and slamming the door in anger. Stephen is puzzled by Dante's opposition to Parnell but recalls his father referring to her as “a spoiled nun.”

Temple

Temple is a friend of Stephen Dedalus at University College, Dublin. He makes his appearance in Chapter Five and is one of the four friends attempting to sway Stephen. Joyce describes Temple as a “gypsy student … with olive skin and lank black hair.” He claims to be a socialist and advocates for universal brotherhood, though he lacks a compelling intellectual basis for his beliefs. Temple acknowledges that he is “an emotional man…. And I’m proud that I’m an emotionalist.”

Eileen Vance

Eileen is the first girl Stephen becomes acquainted with. In his early childhood, Stephen envisions that “when they were grown up he was going to marry Eileen.” He is particularly struck by her “long white hands,” which feel cool to his touch and remind him of ivory. Dante disapproves of Stephen playing with Eileen because she is a Protestant.