In a collective musing of minds, akin to a multitude of curious souls, the question echoes: “Why James Joyce?” What severe magnetic force tugs at your curiosity strings toward Mr. Joyce, and what alchemical process transforms mere mortal humans into the coveted “Joycean”? Deciphering this puzzle is surprisingly easy.
In my realm of literary awareness, the author himself remained elusive for most of my childhood, while the book “Ulysses” manifested as an enigmatic beacon. It was in the evening hours of 2007, atop a mountain in wilds of Medicine Bow National Forest, that the mystique unfolded through the melodic artistry of the musician, Mason Jennings. Through notes and verses, he etched the ballad of “Ulysses” onto the canvas of sound and crafted a stanza that creates a sense of mystery:
I went into twelve bookstores looking for Ulysses
Motherwell led me to believe all my questions would be answered
Now I have it here sitting on the table
Another word for the universe
The depths of Motherwell’s significance remained shrouded and untouched by exploration, until the pen danced upon this very passage. Behold! That very Motherwell, an artistic conjurer—Robert Motherwell, a maestro of American abstract expressionism and a weaver of prints. Enticed by the siren call of Joyce’s ‘stream of consciousness’ writing, as many others have been, he wove his art from the innermost threads of thoughts and emotions.
Mason’s song, a lyrical drapery blowing in the wind before me, cast a spell of bewilderment. It prompted a quest into the cryptic depths of the book it hummed about. What veiled revelations lay within its pages? A covert mission commenced, winding through corridors of research. And there, amid the literary tangle, emerged the elusive modernist, James Joyce. Ulysses, a luminescent book on the list of ‘100 books to read before you die,’ often reigns as the brightest star. But why this celestial acclaim, and how did the whispers of Joyce’s prose elude my ears until the venerable age of twenty?
The pages of this obscure literary collection didn’t beckon an immediate interrogation of my queries. It took a leisurely hike of six full years in the quiet soliloquy of my existence before the book nestled itself into my hands. Then, and only then, did an attempt to unravel its mysteriousness ensue, though the journey lasted only a portion of the inaugural chapter. The mystery lingered on. The answers to all my questions were not found, and ultimately the second-hand book found a new home with a friend.
In early 2020, a fever of desire to delve into this elusive book broke within me. Another thrifted copy became my compass in the literary odyssey, guiding me through the intricate currents of the River Liffey (in Dublin, the playground for Ulysses). Support arrived like a guiding light in the form of Chris Reich, on nothing else but YouTube. His videos stood as pillars of support and excitement, helping anyone through.
As the pages unraveled before me, a madness intertwined with enlightenment. The dance of history, a thesis on the world’s happenings orchestrated by the maestro, James Joyce, ignited a spark within me, fueled by satisfaction from each episode. Not everyone can tread the path of effort, but herein lies the question: Does the nectar of the fruit truly amplify its sweetness when sipped from the cup of adversity?
I, alongside a myriad of kindred spirits, revel in the endless journey and adventure that is James Joyce. His literary gifts are perpetual, a cascade of revelations waiting to be discovered at every portal. Each encounter with his prose propels one down a rabbit hole of worldly insights. This journey, where languages intermingle, newly created witty words spawn, religious revelations dance with historical figures, and conscious thoughts are conjured into words on a page, creates a lexicon where the fantastical not only exists but harmonizes with reason.
From the depths of German to echoes of Latin, the landscape is dotted with linguistic gems. This dictionary of new terms expands to embrace the whimsy of words like ‘peloothered,’ a spirited dance under intoxication, and ‘Penisolate war,’ encapsulating the fervor of a masculine ego driving a war on a peninsula (Napoleon’s Peninsular War 1808-1814). Humpty Dumpty and his whimsical ‘tumptytumtoes’ add yet another layer to this psychedelic realm.
This Joycean odyssey is akin to embarking on a vacation to an uncharted domain—an expedition into unexplored worlds. It elicits the unique sensations of a child, wide-eyed and wonderstruck, rediscovering the world anew. This, dear reader, is the allure of the Joycean world: a harmonious convergence of diverse elements. Welcome, and immerse yourself in the symphony of discovery.
Regis University Denver - James Joyce Sculpture Taken By Brandon Nicklaus
References:
Tate. (n.d.). Robert Motherwell 1915–1991. Tate. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/robert-motherwell-1673
Tate. (1970, January 1). 'Ulysses', Robert Motherwell, 1947. Tate. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/motherwell-ulysses-t07137
Mason Jennings – Ulysses. Genius. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2022, from https://genius.com/Mason-jennings-ulysses-lyrics
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