Joyce has used the name Daedalus as a literary vehicle to give the reader a sense of deeper understanding about Stephen as a character in "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man ". There is a link between Stephen Dedalus and the Greek mythological figure Daedalus and this becomes apparent to Stephen when he hears his friends say his name in Greek. When Stephen compares himself to the "fabulous artificer" their similar plight reveals …showed first 75 words of 880 total…

…showed last 75 words of 880 total…Virgin Mary. He imagines the Holy Virgin joining his hand with Emma's and attributes saint-like qualities to Emma. Stephen's concept of women and sexuality had been very misguided to this point. This changes when Stephen sees the girl wading in the water at the beach. Stephen admires her beauty without guilt and experiences a revelation about women and the beauty they posses. The image of the girl delivers inspiration to Stephen the now transformed artist.