Icarus decided to fly too high. Stephen decided to sin. Icarus decided to fly too low. Stephen decided to pursue a more selfish path. Icarus fell. Stefano has grown up. The story of Icarus is a warning to every man with too much arrogance. Stephen Dedalus, from James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, soars like Icarus and gives in to temptation but ultimately decides to grow despite the suffering before falling. A person's decision in the face of suffering leads to his growth or surrender, this suggests that a person's development is determined by his decisions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Stephen's decision to give in to temptation and end the suffering of sexual frustration lands him in the identity of a sinner. Stephen does not feel free in his suffering. His faith and fear of committing the sin suffocate him, so when he finally gives in he can finally feel some form of freedom, "...as he suffered the agony of his penetration...and the cry he had strangled for so so long in his throat it came out of his lips like a cry of desperation from a hell of sufferers…” (100) The opportunity to surrender to the suffering resulting from sexual frustration fuels his continuous surrender to this sin. Pleasure surpasses his faith while he descends into sin. “He was in another world: he had awakened from a sleep that had lasted centuries.” (100) He surrenders to his suffering and it ignites a passion greater than his faith and restraint could offer. He has essentially surrendered himself to the world of hell, but hell has more passion than earth and so he abandons himself . “… they almost burst into hysterical tears. Tears of joy and relief shone in his delighted eyes and his lips opened even though they did not want to speak. (101) Stephen became a boy again, full of wonder, and lets go of his emotions as he did as a boy. He lets his emotions take over and manifest themselves physically. “He closed his eyes, abandoning himself to her, body and mind, aware of not noticing anything in the world other than the dark pressure of her lips opening gently. ...he felt an unknown and timid pressure, darker than the swoon of sin, softer than sound or smell." (101) Stephen finds himself completely immersed in his new state of pleasure and abandonment. He feels relief and a passion greater than he could have ever thought possible. Which keeps him in the world of surrender to the sin of sex. Stephen's decision to go to college instead of the priesthood is, however selfish, an growth. This decision allows him to grow into his newfound identity as an artist rather than a man chained to sin and faith. Once he has made his choice he exclaims: “The university! Thus he had overcome the challenge of the sentinels who had been guardians of his childhood and had sought to keep him among them so that he could be their subject and serve their ends. Pride after satisfaction elevated him." (165) Stephen faces the challenge of emerging from submission to the priests and entering the freedom of the university. Although this means his family suffers, he develops great personal growth. “The end that he was born to serve and which he had not seen, had led him to flee along an invisible path: and now it was calling him once again and a new adventure was about to open up for him”. (165) Stephen escapes suffering thanks to his faith. Instead he sees the freedom of not knowing what will happen. Stephen thinks as he crosses a bridge, which trembles with all his weight and the steps of the priests who.