Comments on: ULYSSES readalong: Bk 15 part 2, “Circe”

By: V

Mon, 18 May 2015 06:01:22 +0000

Just catching up on this. So a little less than a week behind now. Yeah, might need a night to absorb and compare and contrast with “Venus In Fur,” which I saw at the Jungle. A film version was later made. By Roman Polanski. I shite you not.

By: crystal

crystal — Mon, 18 May 2015 03:36:16 +0000

Missed that! Love all these “Easter eggs” of art and poetry. *btw, the feeling is mutual*

By: Beth

Beth — Sun, 17 May 2015 19:33:40 +0000

Mucky middle indeed!

Most of this middling section felt hallucigenic to me. It seems like the lucid moments are primarily when he is talking to Zoe?

I have not much else to say, so here’s my favorite quote from the section:

“Death is the highest form of life.” (504)

By: Heidi

Heidi — Sat, 16 May 2015 19:18:22 +0000

Anyone else catch that The Nymph (accompanied by her Yews and Waterfall) is from the art reproduction “Bath of the Nymph,” from the Easter number of “Photo Bits”, that hangs, nicely framed, above Molly and Leopold’s bed? [Ep. 4: Calypso, ML 1946, pp.64-65]. What has she not seen in that chamber indeed.

By: crystal

crystal — Fri, 15 May 2015 15:25:43 +0000

I think that you have something there with Jung. And other poets of the time. I think that Joyce has included much of his boys club ruminescings as possible. Would be curious who all he hung with and imaging them hanging out together in the library talking “Shakespeare”/philosophy. Look forward to do the same Bloomsday.

By: girldetective

girldetective — Wed, 13 May 2015 14:46:15 +0000

Crystal, also note how the ash is always used phallicly by Stephen or Lynch–it’s like an extension for them. Heidi, one of the ongoing themes seems to be Bloom’s womanly man, and I’ll have to look up when Jung’s work on anima/animus was published, and whether it was an influence on Joyce. I don’t recall that Gifford has mentioned it in the Annotated Ulysses.

Heidi, Crystal darn well better be joining us for Bloomsday, but if not, I’ll get the badge to her–we’re neighbors and bus stop moms and friends and Gods and Monsterites.

I wonder if I would have found Stephen so insufferable if I’d read when I were younger?

By: Heidi

Heidi — Wed, 13 May 2015 13:06:20 +0000

Kiki, you’re completely right. I too would’ve judged Poldy more harshly in my younger days. From the mid-life perspective there’s often all too much to empathize with.

Crystal, you’ve been adding such insightful commentary to our discussion! Do hope we will see you on Bloomsday. If not, please be in touch with a mailing address so we can send you your well-earned Bookscouts badge!

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 12 May 2015 19:35:08 +0000

That quote from Bloom was definitely a tear-jerker.

By: girldetective

girldetective — Tue, 12 May 2015 19:29:15 +0000

Heidi, I too love that passage of Bloom’s and may put it in an edited version of the post. I doubt I would have felt nearly so strongly for Bloom had I read this in college, as opposed to in midlife.

By: crystal

crystal — Tue, 12 May 2015 19:18:14 +0000

That rocks my world; I love that book. And you get 100% credit for my having read it. Hence, you, rock my world.

I found a few VERY vague references to the name Virag in some books on ancient religions but know that this post will become more convoluted than a passage out of Ulysses (ba-dum-bum). So I refrain.