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James Joyce ‘Ulysses’ and the Twenty First Century

Abstract

James Joyce accomplished a fully fledged novel that delighted readers of all ages and of all origins. His novel encompasses the one day voyage of Leopold Bloom on the streets of Dublin, giving way to a stream of thoughts that were to flow and give birth to the technique of the stream of consciousness, a novelty at the onset of the twentieth century. What could be said of this modern, excellent writer is that his experimental manner of writing brought him a great deal of approval. He brought to the public three novels and a collection of short stories (“Dubliners”) being very much focused on the Irish way of being and behavior. the technique of the “stream of consciousness” brought forth specifically was to alter everything ever written by that time. Nonetheless, we have to admit that a novel like “Ulysses” is not very easy to read. Hence, the effort of reading is worth trying out, especially if one is greatly interested in high quality literature. Many words borrowed from French might present a real obstacle in the course of reading. The book “Ulysses, Annotated” by Don Gifford and Robert J. Seidman becomes a real help (not a complete one though) towards the light of understanding.

Keywords: adventure, Greek mythology, great accomplishment, ingenuity, insight

1. Ulysses’ modernity

“Ulysses” becomes modern not only because it ends in an optimistic tone but also because it is very new in interpreting Greek mythology. The central character of the novel is Steven, who embodies the widely read intellectual on his journey towards knowledge. Leopold Bloom is the common Irishman (might stand at antipode to Steven) who worries about his wife Molly, whom he suspects of adultery.

The novel made up of eighteen episodes: I. Telemachiad: 1.Telemachus, 2.Nestor, 3. Proteus, II. The Odyssey 4. Calypso, 5. Lotus Eaters, 6. Hades, 7.Aeolus, 8.Lestrygonians 9.Wandering Rocks, 10. Sirens, 11.Cyclops, 12. Scylla and Carybdis, 13. Nausica, 14. Oxen of the Sun, 15.Circe, III.Nostos, 16.Eumaeus, 17. Ithaca, 18.Penelope, is thus a journey of these main characters during one single day in the beautiful town of Dublin. Descriptions of the bridge and of the sea are often full of humor and ridicule. The comic character is rendered by means of word play and vivacious character dialogue. Words of Irish origin as “ keen” which is “caoinim” in Irish, buffle and overwhelm the reader. While the main protagonists and their accompanying circle discuss high class issues on cultural themes, pretentious and revigorated cultural aspects of literature are revealed, especially in the reference to William Shakespeare, the great writer and playwright. Nonetheless, the reading is hardened by the fact that one can’t see real connections in the unfolding of the events during the very colorful dialogue. The effect of the distancing ("Verfremdung") is very much present as the language becomes more and more difficult because we get to come across words like: “soubrette”(musical artist), “nuzzle”, “mow”, “trotter”, the adverb “motley”, “shrifty”( confessing), “shefiend”, “schooner” (glass of sherry) and the Irish word for male shoes “brogues” and “kismet” (fate). Thus, all this reading adventure becomes a hard task in the process. The advancement is difficult and the reader is tempted to give it up. On the next approach the reading becomes easier and the reader is left with an ecstatic effect of wonder and well being.

2. The antonymic portrayal of characters

Steven and Bloom are in an opposition to each other, each of them is focused on different matters, the first being rather intellectual and the second rather earthly and very much concerned with his matrimonial life.

Furthermore fun is made of the reverend that is supposed to be widely read:

“Provost’s house. The reverend Dr Salmon: tinned salmon. Well tinned in there. Like a mortuary chapel. Wouldn’t live in it if they paid me. Hope they have liver and bacon today. Nature abhors a vacuum.” (http://www.readcentral.com/chapters/James-Joyce/Ulysses/005)

Hence, theological matters and circumstances are altogether discussed. Thus, the writer’s attitude to deity becomes rather obvious (somewhat critical, doubtful, skeptical?). Hence, queen Elizabeth the First is being poked fun at, as she seems to have murdered not only her first husband but her sister Mary, too. The issue of the original sin is pondered upon in a very original posture in the sense that humankind became sinful in the same way the original sin of Eve’s bite of the apple was repeated, a syllogism which could make no sense at all, as apples are very healthy and good for humans. The statement “After God Shakespeare has created most” is somehow ironical, hence, the Shakespearean universe is certainly multicolored in terms of characters and multifaceted in the terms of depicted situations and humor as well as rendered human, unperishable values as bad, evil (Iago, Lear, Anthony, Macbeth) and innocent, loving, truthful (Desdemona, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Romeo, Juliet). Thus, the author became tremendously creative (fairytales, ghosts, puppets) in spite of the fun made of his family, his wife Anne Hathaway more precisely.

In episode 12, Cyclops, the paradise stands described: lambs and stubble geese, sow pigs, “highly distinguished swine”.

Another reference to Shakespeare is made by means of comparison of his belated wife, Anne who surpassed him and had an easy life for that matter, to a kind of easy going creature. What strokes the reader’s attention is the Shakespeare cameo in the plot of the novel, too.The figure of the knight called “Falstaff” is considered very poetic and original just the same: “Falstaff was not a family man. I feel that the fat knight is his supreme creation.” (http://www.readcentral.com/chapters/James-Joyce/Ulysses/005)

The language is colorful and displays plain thoughts of certain hilarious characters, as well as philosophical assertions on love, science and arts. Although the novel was banned from publishing in the beginning, it must be said that its “obscene” language melts into a comic “blast” that somehow pleases the ear. As somehow it is not possible, that so many thoughts can be rendered during one single day, the reader is allured to push forth through the veil of the text that resembles a cobweb. It is known that the novel, as Joyce said, can’t be taken seriously, or read in a serious mood as its comic, dynamic dimension might be lost. Hence, the venture of reading becomes worthwhile. Altogether, it is also for the musical dimension that the reader is pushing forward all along the intricacies. The dialogue between various characters dwells mostly upon a pseudoscientific approach which is undertaken by Steven, the high brow intellectual and Leopold Bloom, the average bourgeoisie, that assumes that he is cheated by his wife, Molly Bloom.

Bloom, as a matter of fact embodies also the thoughts and feelings of Joyce, thus the autobiographical accent is not lost. His love to his wife Nora Barnacle is put under lens and he does thus not underestimate “pure” unharmed, romantic love.

“Ulysses” ’ make-up is very original and tries to recreate the origins of the universe. Hence, the remarks are very original and inspiring: “ I have an unborn child in my head”

The remarks on Shakespeare’ s works are also enlightening: “He is the ghost and the prince, the father of his own son.” The ghost being Shakespeare and the son, his own son Hamnet. Hamlet, who like “Hose kills the real Carmen” is connected to Hamnet by name resemblance, Shakespeare’s son, is considered mad, although this is placed under rhetoric in the plot of the novel. Furthermore “Cymbeline”, “Cleopatra”, ‘Richard, the Third” are debated upon. “His boots are spoiling the shape of my feet” and “a brother is as easily forgotten as an umbrella” bring the reader to emerge into a smirk imagining the process of alteration of the foot depicted in the impressive, well chosen metaphor.

“After God Shakespeare has created most” is rather ironical, as it is clear that Shakespeare’s creative universe is also very shaky and somehow at the verge of wrecking, tending towards disruptiveness. It is either that the main characters commit suicide or that they destroy, by their hunger for revenge, everything worth loving around them.

“Her figure was small and graceful inclined to frigidity” is set to make the reader imagine how such a woman might look. By the terms of the society of that time it is really hard to imagine how many women were concerned with this issue, let alone men.

Bloom is being made fun upon in the sense that his goggle eyes are impressive and memorable. The fact that Mr. Dedalus looked very simple in the craddle was a motive, to baptize him “Simple”. Mrs. Kennedy was being read to, in this context it is not such a surprise, as Joyce’s universe of “Ulysses” spins around books and certain well known philosophers, such as Socrates, Aristotles and Menippos. Music is also at the center of the novel’s plot, as the piano playing is also encountered in episode eleven, the beginning of the second half of the novel “Sirens”. Blazes Boylan, Urge Lenehan, Buck Mulligan, Cissy Caffry, Ben Dollard are all Irish names that represent Irish culture and mentality. Leopold Bloom drank his cider drink (Irish origin). The black beer (ale) or Guiness is mostly put into perspective. “Minuet of Don Giovanni”, “squilling cat”, “Since Easter he has cursed two times”, “Blank face” as a virgin was detected by, are notoriously Joycean. “The Last Rose of Summer” is referred to as a lovely song, but at the same time “Music gets on your nerves”, meaning that one is not always in the mood of listening to Music. “Bless you my child”, “had not received the last baptize” places father Conmee at the center of “Wandering Rocks” and the narrative unfold is exquisite as an ivory bookmark indicated the page where he was left with the reading. As ambitious as the language itself, the dialogue presents itself very daring while the characters debate certain colorful aspects of English history and also eternal truths : “only family poets have family life”. The clash of thunder, a torrential of rain and different sounds pertain to the creation of the universe. These are also resembling the rhythm of language that sometimes falls. Words are arranged very quickly sometimes and fall at different intervals. The times of “the blissful childhood” are emphasized in idyllic images that remain beautifully on the reader’s mind.

“Royal, privileged, Hungarian robbery”, “the old prostitute of a mother” , “the slaughter of animals” and the downfall of the British empire are debated upon, voices that all resound sharply in Blooms’mind or even Steven’s though not very clear sometimes. Bossoms, bullocks and other body parts are referred to, mere organic expressions which at that time produced much horror and distaste, as they were considered “pornographic” and somewhat unproper for the average reader. Some descriptions of certain feelings resemble even the emotions felt during the sexual act.

Mr. Dedalus is engaged in a discussion with Mrs. Kennedy who returned from the seaside and seemingly enlightened enjoyed it, was not very much in the mood of flirting.

“Bloom with Goulding, married in silence, ate. Dinners fit for princes”, meaning that Bloom was sympathetic with Richie Goulding. In the sentence “ Richie cocked his lips apout”, the word “apout seems just invented, as no dictionary would pop it up. Joyce might have meant that Richie “cocked his lips apart”. The same applies to “ frillies”[1] a word nonexistent in standardized language. A funny story goes round the longing of Mr. Bloom to get a part of an old lady’s testament, did not eat meat on Fridays because the lady had to “thump her craw” (bush of candles) and take her lout (nephew) for a walk. The French were considered “fire brands of Europe” (Episode 12, Cyclops).

The issue of Jewishness is discussed and Mercadante pops up as an example. The scene of Nausica (episode 13) describes the longing of Gertie MacDowell: “A palpable case of Doctor Fell”. The ideal is a wonderful tall man that should be older as he only would know how to love her. But it seemed that her dream “her best boy throwing her over” came to an end soon enough.

Although the novel is written highly in a comical manner, the process of thinking is very much highlighted , being found right there between the lines. The vocabulary is very rich, since Joyce mingled French words with German, Italian and English. On the cultural level, the reader remains enriched with the revelation that is to be experienced: ,,mon en civet” (the cheapest meal containing the inner organs of the animal”. Typical Irish words and expressions resound from the highly pretentious texture: shrift (redemption), bosthoon (worthless fellow), crumpet (pie), gombeen (low businessman), keen (typically Irish originating from “caoinim”). Hence, what strikes is the variety of thoughts that unfold in Bloom’s head during just one day. The stream of consciousness is endowed with quick thoughts, being the very first time that it is used as such. The concentration of historic issues, cultural momentos, literary conundrums and social and political reverberations moves the reader to the fullest, as being at the same time overwhelmed with novelty and social intertwining. What Joyce brings forth and remains new and novel today are his “piercing eyesight” and premonitory set-up, as he foresaw the fall of the British empire from his point of existence and literary activation. It is thus the most genuine endevour to present facts as such and to confer them at the same time literary value.

The word “damsel” (young maid) might not have been used by any other writer up to that point in time. Thus, “Ulysses” becomes a pioneer work and a literary landmark of the twentieth century all the way.

The most remarkable benchmark of the novel remains Stephen Dedalus, the embodiment of the author. His thoughts are rendered via Blooms’ thoughts that gain the authority of the “omniscient point of view”. However, the reader’s attitude and thought-input are requested, as various plots unfold. The most intelligible parts are somehow in the beginning, middle of the novel, tending to loosen their logical compactness towards the end. The novel gains thus the form of the human life starting from birth until death, when the human being becomes more scattered brained. Hence, in the end Bloom and his wife Molly reunite becoming once again, in spite of Bloom’s skeptical thinking over his wife cheating on him, the once coveted loving couple they made. It is a sort of trilogy of life, in which every aspect of it is put under review and minute exploration (birth, adulthood, death).

According to “The Cambridge Companion to James Joyce” which states that “the writer of Ulysses makes it clear that, unlike Bloom, he has an obligation to the truth of that cat’s talk, and the ability to transcribe[2] it. With idiosyncratic ‘Mkgnao’ and its variants Joyce claims the poet’s prerogative to mint new words…” (p.139) it is, as already stated a mystery that remains via all these “invented words” with the reader, all throughout the centuries. During one single day (the total duration of the novel’s action and event unfolding) Bloom proves a tremendous capacity to sum up all the thoughts of the accompanying fellows around him, resembling the female character, an old widow, of Hitchcock’s film “The last town car-Suspicion”(1957) that is being sent all the mischievous thoughts of the criminal driver. Leopold Bloom is able to read not only the thoughts, but also the character’s make-up and emotional proclivity. A kind of psychic transfer that could by any chance happen to people that possess or are driven by such kind of a propensity.

In what concerns the touch of sexuality, it is known that by the time of Ulysses early publishing the early 20ies by Sylvia Beach (in America) the reading public was not realy prepared to live up to the impact it would have immersed, let alone the political attacks:

Among these enforced perversions, pride of place goes to troilism, for this practice answers to the trying centrepiece of Bloom’s entire day, Molly’s tryst with Boylan. Throughout the narrative, Bloom connives at the affair and by the conclusion of the novel, Molly even opines that he had arranged it. The Bello encounter reveals the logic wherby what may have been a traumatic betrayal for Bloom was also the fulfillment of an obscure longing. (p.231)

Sexuality driven to the extreme in Blooms’s tireless mind reaches extremes and has never before been described so minutely in any other novel, before. Thus, it is this endurance and flexiblity in mental speculation that saves Bloom from giving in into side slipping or even committing adultery:

Joyce thus stages Bloom’s masochistic extravaganza as a kind of metaperversion, which is summarizing the principles of the perverse, brings along the other perversions in its wake. The capaciousness of masochism as a perversion is linked to its status as a microcosm of sexuality tout court. Joycean masochism unfolds in what Žižek (….Slavoj Zizek, “The Sublime Object of the Ideology”) has called the logic of the exception, crystallize the secret of the whole. (p.232)

Furthermore, men are being made fun upon but sexuality evolves differently in each of them, even “all the cockholds of Dublin” are mentioned at some point. Joyce refrains from making general remarks in what concerns the perversity of sexuality. In this sense he is more restrained than Freud:

Here, a highly non-normative type of sexuality discloses in the form of its enactment the function of normativity within the larger economy of sexuality, its articulation with the desire it pretends to circumscribe. In this light the indignation that greeted the sexuality in and of Joyce’s fiction seem more understandable if no less regrettable. Whereas Freudian theory outraged polite society by situating preversion within a structure of perversion coextensive with sexuality itself. (p.232)

3. Conclusions

In its intrinsic core, the novel gains a magic touch and brings the reader forward to the point of thinking that all the above mentioned traits make up for a qualitative, high class literature from Homer up to eternity. The day of the 16^th of June 1904 ( a Friday=a free day?) is (becomes, brings forth) thus a novel that becomes eternal and engages in a rhapsody of feelings, thoughts, Music and infinite rhythms.