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A Portrait of the Artist As A Young Man: Themes Developed Through Allusions to
Classical Mythology


James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is a novel of
complex themes developed through frequent allusions to classical mythology. The
myth of Daedalus and Icarus serves as a structuring element in the novel,
uniting the central themes of individual rebellion and discovery, producing a
work of literature that illuminates the motivations of an artist, and the
development of his individual philosophy.
James Joyce chose the name Stephen Dedalus to link his hero with the
mythical Greek hero, Daedalus. In Greek myth, Daedalus was an architect,
inventor, and artisan. By request of King Minos, Daedalus built a labyrinth on
Crete to contain a monster called the Minotaur, half bull and half man. Later,
for displeasing the king, Daedalus and his son Icarus were both confined in this
labyrinth, which was so complex that even its creator could not find his way out.......

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Approximate Word Count: 2888
Approximate Pages: 12 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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