To Stephen, artistic expression involves more than a casual appreciation of style or form; it involves a complete communion of body, mind, and spirit. Stephen experiences this "esthetic harmony" as he gazes at a girl wading in the sea; she epitomizes his expectations of life in the form of art, freedom, and sexuality. From this moment, Stephen dedicates himself to the pursuit of such a life.
Stephen chooses to forge his future by first testing his new philosophy against the established customs, mores, and restrictions of Dublin society. Almost systematically, he interacts with his family and his friends, and one by one, he dissociates himself from them, as well as from the values that they represent.
Although we might not agree that it is necessary for Stephen to break free of all the bonds which tie him to his disappointing and unfulfilled past, we acknowledge that he alone must make the decision about leaving Ireland. Note that as Stephen departs from his homeland, in search of himself, he seems to possess the confidence, the egocentrism, and a tentative hope for the future common to everyone who leaves home for the first time. Although it is clear that his life's lessons have only begun, we wish him well and hope that his future will hold him "forever in good stead."
