What is Stephen Dedalus commited to do at the end of "A Portrait of the Artist"?

Stephen's rejection of the environment that shaped him is complete by the novel's end, and through his diary entries we see a purposeful young artist going on to seek self-expression in Europe.

Welcome, O life, 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.