Father-son relationships are part of the fabric of everyday life and, for this reason, father-son relationships are a recurring theme in great literature. While a father can certainly be a role model and source of strength for a child, a father who fails in his role can create a very negative relationship. In Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stephen Dedalus has a problematic relationship with his father, Simon Dedalus. Stephen also has problematic relationships with other fathers: Catholic priests. Joyce uses the shortcomings 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 Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One of the main ways in which Simon Dedalus symbolizes the problems facing Ireland is through Simon's descent into poverty. In chapter 2, Simon faces increasing financial difficulties, and Stephen notes his father's failures. Although still quite young, Stephen understands that "his father was in trouble" financially (67). Forced to move to a "sad house" in Dublin, Stephen begins to resent his father (68). Stephen's resentment of his father's poverty shows how 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 described in the novel, covered most of Dublin during this period of time (“Poverty and health”). Therefore, the move to Dublin is particularly significant because Dublin is poorer than some surrounding areas, just as Ireland is poorer than the Western European countries close to it (Britain, France, etc.). Just as his father's poverty deprives Stephen of the "comfort and reverie of Blackrock," Ireland's poverty deprives Joyce of the luxuries he might have had in richer countries. Simon's financial decline continues to worsen throughout the novel. Like Stephen For centuries, he continues to note the "disorder, misgovernment, and confusion of his father's house" (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 term. resentment of his father's poverty to show his displeasure with the poverty of Ireland. Another example in chapter 2 where Daedalus's shortcomings symbolize the problems Ireland faces is Stephen's trip with his father to Cork. Stephen must accompany his father to "his dispossession". since he has to sell his property (92). Stephen's unhappiness during this trip is another example of how Joyce despises the poverty of Ireland. Furthermore, from the beginning of the journey Stephen is aware of his father's "drinks from his pocket flask". (92). As the journey continues, Simon drinks as he travels "from bar to bar" around the city (99). His drinking becomes so destructive that Stephen finds he must "cover up that shameful mark of his father's drunkenness" (99). Simon's drinking is another problem of Ireland that Joyce tries to criticize. Ireland is known for being a heavy drinking country and the stereotype of the drunken Irishman is common ("Alcohol... Ireland"). Joyce uses Simon Dedalus' drinking habits to criticize excessive alcohol consumption in Ireland. The effect that Simon's drinking has on Stephen reveals this criticism. Stephen considers his father's drunkenness "shameful" and is disappointed that his father's drinking allows him to be "deceived by the porter's servile ways" (99.94). Stephen has been "tired and dejected" since.