Follows Stephen Dedalus as he grows from a sensitive boy into a rebellious young man seeking his own identity as an artist. Set in late 19th-century Ireland, Stephen struggles with the pressures of family, religion, and Irish nationalism. Through his inner thoughts and experiences, he gradually rejects traditional constraints and embraces a life devoted to artistic freedom and self-expression. The novel explores themes of individuality, creativity, and the conflict between personal desires and societal expectations.