james joyce
... The name Joyce gave his hero underscores this aspect of his character. ... Indeed, we can believe that Stephen may grow up to be very much like the James Joyce who wrote A Portrait of the Artist. ... Perhaps Joyce makes fun of Stephens pretensions while still admiring the bravery that accompanies them. Perhaps Joyce feels sympathy for Stephens struggles but also feels obliged to mock the less admirable aspects of his heros character--because he shared those character traits himself. ... Joyce himself said to a friend that his artist was not fully formed yet. ... Joyce does not say.