Welcome to the first digression from the text. Remember, within these pages lies a trove of discovery, all shielded from the casual observer, waiting for a determined excavator to uncover this archaeological substance of literature. As you embark upon the literary odyssey of Ulysses, know that the surface merely hints at the vast expanse of cosmic interworkings lying within. In the intriguingly wicked words of Joyce, he weaves symbolism, people, and real-life experiences into his work. In Joyce’s world, clarity dances with ambiguity, leaving no room for a straightforward message. His words are like riddles whispered by the wind, each syllable carrying layers of meaning that unfold like the petals of a mysterious flower.
Joyce used his literature as both a means of revenge and a gesture of kindness, embedding his feelings and views of people he encountered into his life’s work.
Consider something as simple as a name. Buck Mulligan’s full name is Malachi Mulligan, modeled after a real person Joyce knew, Oliver Gogarty. Joyce’s eccentric mind extended to structuring the syllables in each name to resemble each other. Joyce hints at this when Buck himself mentions, “My name is absurd too: Malachi Mulligan, two dactyls.”
A dactyl is a metrical foot consisting of three syllables in which the first syllable is stressed or accented, followed by two unstressed or unaccented syllables.
mal-uh-kahy muhl-i-guhn
ol-uh-ver go-gar-ty
As you begin your journey in this blog, envision yourself standing at the threshold of an infinite wormhole, where each passage leads to a world of its own. With the turn of each page, you’re invited to choose your favored paths, letting curiosity be your guide.
By merely reading Ulysses, you would never know the personal connections that add to the intriguing nature of Joyce.
Joyce modeled Buck Mulligan after Oliver Gogarty, an Irishman and medical student. According to biographer Richard Ellmann, Joyce met Gogarty at the National Library in Dublin in 1902. Both were interested in writing and exchanged ideas. Joyce, with his pretentious ego, always felt superior to Gogarty—both intellectually and as a writer. This sense of superiority created tension in their relationship, leading Joyce to constantly strive to outdo Gogarty, resulting in a rivalry. Their contentious relationship can be summed up by the saying, “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”
Similarly, in Ulysses, Buck Mulligan attempts to outshine Stephen (modeled after Joyce himself) and is driven to make him appear absurd. Joyce used Ulysses to reflect his feelings of rivalry with Gogarty. Both Buck and Gogarty are blasphemous and designed to annoy and bully Stephen. Gogarty recognized Joyce’s talent, but Joyce, feeling threatened by Gogarty’s elite status (Gogarty eventually became a surgeon and authored several books), found himself in a strained relationship that should have ended sooner.
One incident seems to have sealed their relationship status in Joyce’s consciousness. When Joyce was bouncing between accommodations in Dublin in 1904 due to an inability to pay rent, he stayed with Gogarty at the Martello Tower on September 9th. In Ulysses, Joyce portrays the situation as if he paid the rent at Martello Tower and was taken advantage of. However, records show that it was Oliver Gogarty who paid the rent, highlighting Joyce’s inflated ego, even when he was down on his luck.
As the story unfolds, our understanding of Buck Mulligan deepens. From the very first pages, he is depicted as playful with a laid-back approach to life, contrasting sharply with Stephen’s more tightly wound, serious, and sensitive demeanor. Some find joy when Mulligan appears, knowing that things are about to go off track. Pay attention to the combative interactions between these two characters.
We observe certain trends early on with Buck. He is clearly infatuated with the Greeks, mentioning their language, expressing a desire to Hellenize Ireland, and offering to teach Stephen about the Greeks. What is it about the Greeks that fascinates both Buck and Gogarty?
As the story unfolds, we can enhance our comprehension of who this Buck character is. You can see from the very first pages he is playful and has a laid back approach to life, differing form Stephens more tightly wound up, serious and sensitive side. Some find joy when Mulligan comes to town, as you know that things are about to go of track. Pay attention to the combative twosome and their interactions.
We find some trends in early Buck. He is clearly infatuated with the Greeks. He mentions their language, the desire to Hellenize Ireland, and offers to teach Stephen about the Greeks. What is it about the Greeks that Buck or Gogarty enjoy so much?
References:
“Dactyl Definition & Usage Examples.” Dictionary.Com, Dictionary.com, www.dictionary.com/browse/dactyl. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024.
Delaney, Frank. “Episode 1L We Meet Buck Mulligan”. Podcast Title. Podcast audio, June 15, 2010. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frank-delaneys-re-joyce/id377763645?i=1000388002634
Ellmann, Richard. James Joyce. Oxford University Press, 1983.
The Clongownian (photographer unknown) - Lyons, J.B. 'The Enigma of Tom Kettle'. Dublin: Glendale Press, 1983.
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