What are the epiphanies in James Joyce's ''A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man''?

Answer 1

The main allusion in Portrait is the Greek myth of Daedalus. This man built himself a maze and could not escape from it, so he built wings to aid himself and his son, Icarus, in flying away. Icarus flew too close to the sun, and his wings were destroyed; he consequently perished. Joyce alludes to this myth in many ways. Most importantly, he refers to himself as an artist, like Daedalus, and is trapped in the maze of his mind. At the end of the book, however, he refers to the old "artificer," perhaps insinuating that he now identifies with Icarus, or that he is both, and has literally birthed himself. There are also many references to birds in the work that hearken back to the myth. Other probable allusions include allegories to Christ, works of Shakespeare such as Julius Cesar, and multiple other Greek myths. It is a work full of references and allusions!

Answer 2

Some key epiphanies in James Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" include Stephen Dedalus's moments of clarity and self-realization about his own identity, his rejection of traditional religious beliefs, and his decision to pursue a life dedicated to art and self-expression. These epiphanies represent Stephen's journey towards self-discovery and liberation from societal constraints.