WEEK 5 - ULYSSES

[jb]

WEEK 5 - Ulysses BY James Joyce

February 23 – February 29: Part III
• Part III: The Nostos – approximately 158 pages (the paperback is from 569 to 732)
o Episode 16: Eumaeus
o Episode 17: Ithaca
o Episode 18: Penelope

[Lisa]

Ithaca: I liked the question and answer style- I could follow it! Apparently this is Socratic dialogue. I liked the comparison of their ages. And the scientist vs the artist.

16 years before in 1888 when Bloom was of Stephen’s present age Stephen was 6. 16 years after in 1920 when Stephen would be of Bloom’s present age Bloom would be 54. In 1936 when Bloom would be 70 and Stephen 54 their ages initially in the ratio of 16 to 0 would be as 17 1/2 to 13 1/2, the proportion increasing and the disparity diminishing according as arbitrary future years were added, for if the proportion existing in 1883 had continued immutable, conceiving that to be possible, till then 1904 when Stephen was 22 Bloom would be 374 and in 1920 when Stephen would be 38, as Bloom then was, Bloom would be 646 while in 1952 when Stephen would have attained the maximum postdiluvian age of 70 Bloom, being 1190 years alive having been born in the year 714, would have surpassed by 221 years the maximum antediluvian age, that of Methusalah, 969 years, while, if Stephen would continue to live until he would attain that age in the year 3072 A.D., Bloom would have been obliged to have been alive 83,300 years, having been obliged to have been born in the year 81,396 B.C.

[Lisa]

Penelope:
Molly wakes up as Bloom kisses and goes to sleep. She lies in bed thinking a variety of questions about Bloom and their life together.

(view spoiler)[ Molly has been much villainised throughout the story as the cheating wife. We now learn that today marked the first day of an affair with Boylan and that it is Bloom who has been unfaithful for 10 years. Their own relationship is no longer intimate and Molly feels lonely and helpless (hide spoiler)]

This was where I felt the Odyssey contrast the strongest. Odysseus returns home after 17 years to find his house beset by suitors and after testing Penelope he learns of her fidelity and is overjoyed. Throughout the story, the reader has known of Penelope's fidelity although the suitors, Telemachus and Eumaus all questioned it.

Molly has been contrasted to Penelope. She is set up from early on as an imperfect wife and does not meet any standard of perfection. Yet she is probably more realistic than Penelope. She is disappointed by her husband's absence and infedility and this continues upon his return. Penelope waits and is overjoyed to see Odysseus.

Now Odysseus- Bloom. Welcome to society's classic double- standard!

Odysseus is an unfaithful husband. We know of the nymph and I wonder about women taken in battle. He expects even demands fidelity from his wife, who could easily have remarried thinking him deceased. If Penelope had been unfaithful, would he have executed her? And this is sold to the reader as acceptable.

Bloom too is unfaithful. We have an idea of this throughout the book. Yet it is Molly's infidelity that stands out. Bloom expects loyalty whilst not displaying any. And this too is presented as acceptable up until the very last chapter.

[Renee]

One section left! It's taking a long time but as God is my witness, I will get to the end! *shakes fist in the air*