JOYCE’S WORLD. I am now reading ULYSSES, and Nick asked me to pass on my opinions as I go along. First, I am really enjoying it. The next reaction is that I have entered a different world. I know from DUBLINERS and PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST that for Joyce every word is meant to have associations and everything is a symbol. ULYSSES begins: “Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed.” And I wonder what it means—or suggests—that the the mirror and the razor are crossed. And the bowl of lather? Sometimes when I stop reading ULYSSES I look around me and try to imagine that every object in the room is charged with symbolism. I commented about the symbols to Mary Jane, and she said that Joyce had a medieval mind.
Categories
Archives
Recent Comments
- Gary Nuetzel on THE OLDEST FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE STARTS ITS 32ND SEASON. (COMMENT).
- Francesca on EATING PEAS WITH A KNIFE.
- avon wilsmore on CHEATING IN CHAMPIONSHIP BRIDGE.
- Anonymous on THE LANGUAGE WEIRDNESS INDEX.
- James Friscia on THE SECOND OLDEST FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE.
- Ken Babcock on THE SECOND OLDEST FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE.
- Lickity Splitfingers on THE SECOND OLDEST FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE.
- Ken Babcock on THE OLDEST FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE STARTS ITS 32ND SEASON. (COMMENT).
- David Quemere on THE OLDEST FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE STARTS ITS 32ND SEASON. (COMMENT).
- Nicholas Schaefer on THE SECOND OLDEST FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE.
Meta
I should really go back, although I know people spend entire lifetimes analyzing Ulysses.
There were some chapters that I just found overwhelming, and off the top of my head I think “Oxen of the Sun” in particular was beyond me. This would have been four or five years ago, I wonder if I could take a second crack at it.
Pingback: FINDING THE SYMBOL. | Pater Familias