Icarus was a minor figure in Greek mythology who was famous for failing to make the transition from boyhood to manhood. He was the son of Daedalus, an accomplished inventor who built an ingenious labyrinth for Minos, King of Crete, on the island of Cnossus. Even Daedalus couldn't find his way out of his labyrinth. Daedalus fell out of favor with the king of Crete and was sentenced to spend the rest of his life inside the labyrinth. Icarus suffered the same fate as his father's son.
Icarus and his father were trapped. Daedalus, the inventor, even built wings of feathers and wax to escape. The wings, in theory, would allow Daedalus and Icarus to fly above the labyrinth, away from the island to freedom. Daedalus warned his son to be cautious just before their flight. If he flew too low, his wings would get wet in the ocean; if he flew too high, the sun would melt the wax, causing the wings to disintegrate.
Icarus took off, fully intending to heed his father's wise counsel. They flew away, escaping the labyrinth. Icarus, like any adolescent boy, struggled with parental advice. He found flight challenging at first, but he quickly learned and soon flew with the characteristics of adolescence—his physical strength compensated for his lack of coordination and balance. Icarus, like many adolescents, progressed quickly from ungainliness to false prowess. He soared higher in the sky, drunk with his newfound power, ignoring his father's warning. In flight, Daedalus looked around but couldn't find his son. He looked down at the ocean and noticed a small cluster of feathers floating in it. Icarus had soared towards the sun, his wax had melted, and he had died.