Father-son relationships are part of the fabric of everyday life and, as such, father-son relationships are a recurring theme in the great literature. While a father can certainly be a role model and source of strength for his son, a father who fails in his role can create a very negative relationship. In The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stephen Dedalus has a difficult relationship with his father, Simon Dedalus. Stephen also has problematic relationships with other fathers: Catholic priests. Joyce uses the flaws of these fathers to symbolize the problems facing Ireland and show Joyce's complex relationship with his homeland. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'? Get the original essay One of the main ways in which Simon Dedalus symbolizes the problems facing Ireland is through Simon's fall into poverty. In Chapter 2, Simon faces increasing financial difficulties and Stephen notices his father's failures. Even though he is still very young, Stephen understands that "his father was in difficulty" financially (67 years old). Forced to move to a “moodless house” in Dublin, Stephen begins to resent his father (68). Stephen's resentment of his father's poverty shows how deeply Joyce resents the poverty of Ireland. Subject to harsh British rule, Ireland was one of the poorest countries in Europe in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Dilapidated urban areas, such as those depicted in the novel, covered the most of Dublin during this period (“Poverty and Health”). The move to Dublin is therefore particularly significant because Dublin is poorer than some regions surrounding it, just as Ireland is poorer than the Western European countries close to it (Great Britain, France, etc.) . Just as his father's poverty deprives Stephen of the "comfort and reverie of Blackrock," the poverty of Ireland deprives Joyce of the luxuries he might have in richer countries. Simon's financial decline continues to worsen throughout the novel. Like Stephen For years, he continues to notice "the disorder, mismanagement, and confusion of his father's household" (176). Stephen refers to the house as "his father's house", showing how Stephen blames his father for his family's financial situation. Joyce uses Stephen's. Resentment towards his father's poverty to show his displeasure with the poverty of Ireland. Another example in Chapter 2 where Dedalus' shortcomings symbolize the problems facing Ireland is Stephen's trip with his father to Cork. Stephen must accompany his father until “his own dispossession”. because he must sell his property (92). Stephen's misfortune on this trip is another example of how Joyce despises the poverty of Ireland. Furthermore, from the beginning of the journey, Stephen is aware of the “drafts of his pocket flask”. (92). As the journey continues, Simon drinks as he travels the city "from bar to bar" (99). His drinking becomes so disturbing that Stephen realizes he must “conceal this shameful sign of his father's drinking” (99). Simon's drinking is another problem with Ireland that Joyce seeks to criticize. Ireland is known for being a heavy drinking country, and the stereotype of the drunk Irishman is common ("Alcohol...Ireland"). Joyce uses the drinking habits of Simon Dedalus to criticize Ireland's heavy drinking. The effect that Simon's drinking has on Stephen reveals this criticism. Stephen..