Simon Dedalus

Simon Dedalus is a fictional character in two works by James Joyce - A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses. He is the father of Stephen Dedalus, the young protagonist in both, and his character is largely based on Joyce's own father, John Stanislaus Joyce. Simon is a passionate Irish nationalist and supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell, facilitating his financial success within Dublin society in Stephens' earlier years. But with the political "fall from grace" of Parnell, he and his family also fall on hard times.

In Ulysses, Simon has lost his wife but has continued to maintain an air of respectibility within Dublin's "drinking society" where he is known for his wit and singing ability but is unable to provide support for his two daughters. His and Stephen's paths cross several times during the course of the book but the two never meet. Simon briefly mentions concern for Stephen, who is now living on his own and supporting himself, but Stephen feels only the need to escape what remains of his disintegrating family. The novel presents Leopold Bloom, the protagonist of Ulysses, as Stephen's metaphoric and symbolic father.

References

• "A Note on Simon Dedalus," DH Parker, James Joyce Quarterly, 1982.
• "Fatherhood and Paternity in Joyce's 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man'", Katrin Scherf, 2009.
• "Naming the father: legacies, genealogies, and explorations of fatherhood", Eva Paulino Bueno, Terry Caesar, William Hummel, 2000.