Et ignotas animum dimittit in artes Ovid, Metamorphoses, VIII, 188
("And he applies his mind to unseen arts.")

This was a really confusing book to be honest. I can definitely see how it is venerated, although the middle of the book was definitely soul dragging to get through. The parts that define this book is the start and end: Stephens experience growing up and his curious insights into the world, and when he talks about his definitions of art and beauty, and his conversation with Cranly about his state of mind at the end. I felt that the descriptions and insights from Joyce into the subject of what art and beauty is was incredible, a masterpiece of a scene. Some occurences and scenes seemed pointless though, and the only interesting character was the main one Stephen Dedalus. There was also the common line of Latin which appeared and was given no translation. The other characters simply existed to be on the recieving end of Stephens wit, and were fleshed out by the bare minimum. I am glad I read this book however, I rate it 3.8 ★