The artist 'is at once a member of his society, a rebel, a martyr and the possible savior, in whose imagination the spirit of man is continually affirmed.'

Throughout the book, Stephen records his feelings of being different and distant from his classmates, his siblings, and even his friends. At the end of the novel, Stephen records his artistic manifesto in his diary: "I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race."