Theme of Impotence in James Joyces Ulysses - Essay Example

?Theme of Impotence in James Joyce’s Ulysses Table of Contents Introduction 3 Thesis ment 4 Theme of Impotence in the Novel Ulysses and Its Space and Relation in Modern Writing Canon 4 Conclusion 8 Works Cited 9 Introduction Ulysses by James Joyce is a novel published comprehensively in the year 1922 in Paris by Sylvia Beach. This novel is granted as one of the leading and poignant works from the modernist pantheon. The narrative of the novel is crafted in the stream-of-consciousness technique, the novel abounds in allusions, detailed and enriched characterisations, a vivid humour, pungent sarcasm and a wide range of experimentation on prose enabled Joyce to sum up and display the contemporary environment totally (Harte, “Sarah Danius, The Senses of Modernism: Technology, Perception, and Aesthetics”). Divided into eighteen chapters, the book runs parallel to the Greek book Odyssey by Homer and each chapter consists of pertinent resemblance with the form, technique and characterisation from the original text, Odyssey from which the story has been inculcated. At the outset of the novel, a light contemplation on the subject-matter of the book indicates that the novel is all about a search. Stephen searches for a father in the symbolic sense and Bloom contrarily searches for a son. In this regard, it can be easily demonstrated that the plot of Ulysses by Joyce parallels to the search of Telemachus for Odysseus and vice versa. However, if one throws light into the conclusion of the search, they ought to know that the search does not end in the novel with the discovery of blooms recognition of his future in Stephen and Stephen’s recognising of past in Bloom. Joyce made it very clear that the concept pertaining to the quest for paternity is an unending phenomenon thereby establishing the multiple themes of masculinity, impotence and infertility within the premise of the ever- puzzling plot of “Ulysses” (Jaurretche 29). Thesis Statement This essay intends to explore the interplay of the theme of impotence and its relationship with the writings from the modern canon at a wider realm. Theme of Impotence in the Novel Ulysses and Its Space and Relation in Modern Writing Canon Before analysing the theme of impotence in the novel, “Ulysses” it is quintessential to discuss the theme of sexuality and its space in the novel. There is a stark manifesto of Joyce when he presents the theme of sexuality in the text. Chapters like "Calypso," "Lotus Eaters," "Lestrygonians," "Nausicaa," "Circe," "Ithaca," and "Penelope” abounds in sexual innuendoes hinting the delineation of the theme of sexuality throughout. Also the motif of sexuality presented in the book generates a relation of sexuality and religion on one plane and dichotomy of masculinity and femininity on the other. The delineation of sexual themes in the novel is also indicative of the voyeurism and masochism in the novel. One must not undermine the fact at any level while drawing any kind of critical reception of the novel “Ulysses” that through this novel, Joyce was quite deliberate to give a social message though in a very latent form. Yet, by completely manifesting actions in the plot with the help of socially condemned behaviours like adultery, voyeurism, masochism and masturbation, Joyce desired to set his characters free in the paradigm of sexual behaviours relating them to evolve as portals pertaining to self-discovery. The free delineation of the sexual activities and urges in the early modern text of Ulysses was condemned for its obscenity but actually Joyce stepped out of the morale and conventional ideals thirsted upon the individuals by society to claim the fact that he is undermining the social stereotypes authorised in patriarchal society related to femininity and masculinity. The society is growing impotent according to Joyce and in order to hide its impotence, it condemns natural desire and primitive instinct of man to surface out spontaneously and rationally (Prebul, “Joyce's Sexual Manifesto: Sex and Sexuality in James Joyce's Ulysses”). Themes of sexuality and impotence do compliment each other in the novel, “Ulysses”. And to demonstrate both the themes in the novel, Leopold Bloom appears as a mascot in the text. Leopold Bloom is very much aware of the fact that his wife is going to sleep with his manager but instead of preventing the adultery of his wife, Bloom is busy in his mundane chores of daily life and short sexual encounters which develop adultery of his sort. Through this particular incident, it is quite clear that to hinge on the moral and righteousness of Bloom does not play any importance in the text. On the contrary, through the depiction of Bloom’s attitude towards the adultery of Molly, his wife Joyce indicates or hints a subverted impotence in Bloom which is connected with the modern society hinted as impotent by Joyce in the post-war situations. Angus McLaren in his book “Impotence: A Cultural History” states that: “Leopold Bloom has been impotent with Molly for the past decade and kissing her rump gives him only “proximate erection”. D.H. Lawrence most famously argued in Lady Chatterley’s Lover (1928) that modern men lacked ardour. Most commentator’s warnings that the stresses of the over civilised post-war world- of work, exams, automobile riding, and demanding women –could result in male flops were not terribly original. Nevertheless, two charismatic figures- Sigmund Freud and Marie Stopes-drew on their own life experience to reconfigure the meaning of male sexual dysfunctions. Though their conclusions radically differed, they both began with the premise that impotence was masculinity in crisis” (McLaren 150). Exactly from this queue, the theme of impotence finds its expression and motive in the text Ulysses. If one looks from the close counter into the first ten chapters of the book, one will definitely trace out examples where men fantasise sexual activity but do not take an active part into it. Gazing or voyeuring does appear into the first ten chapters of the book repeatedly, quite indicative of the fact that abhorring direct physical intimacy but enjoying the same from bay or fantasising it definitely indicates impotence among the protagonists of the text especially Bloom and partially the main hero of the novel, Stephen Dedalus. Like Stephen Dedalus’ watching of a couple in chapter three, ‘Proteus’ or Bloom ogling at a woman wearing stockings and his view is hindered by a passing tram. Bloom’s vivid fantasy of Molly and her concert manager Blaze Boylan indulging into adultery is vindictive but it again indicates Bloom’s impotence. On a conventional note as well, Bloom’s impotence is not only indicated through his activities but the very fact of Bloom’s wife indulging into sex with other man indicates that she is not satisfied physically from her husband, Stephen Bloom. Chapter four of the novel “Ulysses” bears the title, ‘Calypso’ and in this chapter, the readers are introduced to Leopold Bloom for the first time in the novel. At the outset of the chapter only, readers get acquainted with the ghastly appetite of Leopold Bloom which contains hints regarding the excessive sexual appetite of the man as well. Leopold Bloom is introduced to his readers as, “Mr Leopold Bloom ate with relish the inner organs of beasts and fowls. He liked thick giblet soup, nutty gizzards, a stuffed roast heart, liverslices fried with crustcrumbs, fried hencods' roes. Most of all he liked grilled mutton kidneys which gave to his palate a fine tang of faintly scented urine” (Levenson 82). At places, explicit and at other places expressed, theme of impotence finds a considerable space in the novel, “Ulysses”. Next line of thought process which arises out of this essay centres round the reason for the delineation of the theme of impotence in “Ulysses” particularly and modern literature in general. Wolf’s hostile attitude towards James Joyce is very explicit. It is found in the notes and diary entry of Woolf regarding the novel by Joyce. Even her letters accomplished the fact. After the publication of “Ulysses”, Woolf complained to Roger Fry, where she stated, “like martyr to stake, and have thank God , now finished-my martyrdom is over” (Richter, “The Ulysses Connection: Clarissa Dalloway’s Bloomsday”). Nevertheless, very few critics could find the connection of Ulysses with Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway and Harvena Richter in her essay, “The Ulysses Connection: Clarissa Dalloway’s BloomsDay” sets the connection between Wolf and Joyce and raising beyond the periphery of scathing criticism as supported by many critics blinded through the letters, diary entry and notes of Virginia Woolf, Harvena discovers the fact that Woolf did mention Ulysses as a revolutionary novel. In the notes of Virginia Woolf, one can find the accomplishment of Joyce as a writer after the publication of Ulysses, “It is an attempt to get thinking in literature-hence the jumble the inferant is that this is psychology. Possible like a cinema that shows you very slowly, how a horse does jump Here is thought made phonetic-taken to bits” (Richter, “The Ulysses Connection: Clarissa Dalloway’s Bloomsday”). Discussion from the contemporary plate signifies the fact well that Ulysses did receive scathing reception of critics and contemporary writers but was not rejected totally at any level. Therefore, from the aforementioned discussion, it is clear as well that the themes inherent in the novel, “Ulysses” were also accepted by the contemporary readers, writes and critics. One of the most important themes that evolved in modern writing was the post-war crisis faced by the entire society along with the breakdown of communication. Joyce was cunning enough to represent the social crisis the world was facing but in a very subtle way. Post-modernism deals with scepticism, but the era which proceeded post-modernism was the era of crude reality. Modernist writings believed in a faithful representation of physical and the inner psychological development and conflict operating within human psyche as well. Ulysses like a true modern novel stands with stark realism of life with unprecedented details. Now life does consist of dark sides, therefore many morbid and obscene themes and situations did appear in the novel, “Ulysses”. Moreover, Joyce like a true modern writer represented those themes and situations with intricate details without censoring a bit of it. Therefore, in strengthening the canon of modernist writing in English literature, Joyce played a very essential role in following the traits of modern writing very honestly. He tried his best to efface the line between the real life and imaginative world. World was no more a ground for fantasy and romanticism. It consisted of many vices of life and thus there was no room for any complacence. This way the novel, “Ulysses” at a greater context does serve to establish and enhance the modern canon of English literature (Attridge 147). Conclusion The novel “Ulysses” is a perfect text crafted in the stream-of-consciousness technique. It captivates immense and stark social issues of the contemporary period. At the same plane, it has the capacity to present realism with an impeccable generation of thought process through detailed and tight-lipped narrative. When a theme like paternity, sexuality and impotence were hesitantly delineated within the contemporary texts, Joyce was the pioneer to break the set stereotypes thirsted by society and step out of the conventional circles in every possible ways which he manifested through his writings like, “Ulysses” (Fargnoli and Gillespie 26). Works Cited Attridge, Derek. The Cambridge Companion to James Joyce. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Print. Fargnoli, A. Nicholas. and Michael P. Gillespie. James Joyce A to Z: The Essential Reference to the Life and Work. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1995. Print. Harte, Tim. “Sarah Danius, The Senses of Modernism: Technology, Perception, and Aesthetics.” Bryn Mawr Review of Comparative Literature 4.1 (2003). Print. Jaurretche, Colleen. Beckett, Joyce and the Art of the Negative. The Netherlands: Rodopi, 2005. Print. Levenson, Michael. The Cambridge Companion to Modernism. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print. McLaren, Angus. Impotence: A Cultural History. United States of America: University of Chicago Press, 2008. Print. Prebul, Alexandra Brull. “Joyce's Sexual Manifesto: Sex and Sexuality in James Joyce's Ulysses”. Honors Thesis (2012). Print. Richter, Harvena. “The Ulysses Connection: Clarissa Dalloway’s Bloomsday.” Studies in the Novel 21.3 (1989): 305. Print. Read More