Commentary.
             The passage depicts an epiphany experienced by an adolescent, Stephen, as he wanders down a beach. He sees a silent, beautiful figure and observes her, transfixed. What is interesting is that the first paragraph of the extract also acts much like an introduction, setting the scene. It probably does this to ensure the reader that this dream-like passage is very real, and no dream nor hallucination.
             The piece has many religious, immortal and divine implications, referring to the girl. There is a continuing bird theme, Stephen describes her as 'one whom magic had changed into the likeness of a strange and beautiful seabird'. She is also likened to a crane, her breasts said to be 'like some dark-plumaged dove', her dress 'dovetailed' behind her showing her drawers of 'soft white down'. The name of this story is Stephen Daedalus, Daedaus being the father of Icarus who in Greek mythology tried to escape his doom by making himself the wings of a bird with feathers and wax. The passage emphasizes bird qualities and makes many a mention of birds, especially those of pure colour. All of these bird-features are white, symbolising her purity, and peacefulness, she seems to have an ethereal quality to her, of the sky and air, the fluidity of her clothing and body also indicates this, there is a profound sense of her almost being part of nature, a 'wild angel'. The angel seems to have no imperfections, even a piece of seaweed, manages to become an 'emerald trail' when wrapped around her leg. She also has no age, she is developed 'her bosom was as a bird's' yet he still emphasizes her 'girlish' hair, which confuses him; She possesses immortality, eternal beauty and youth, a woman's body, yet child-like elements. The woman seems to have been 'touched with...mortal beauty', as if she were n
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