Ulysses, written by James Joyce over seven years and first published in 1922, is considered one of the most fundamental, ground-breaking pieces of literature in the English language. Joyce broke many stylistic taboos of the time and in doing so paved the way for contemporary literature. The title is taken from Homer's
The Odyssey and the chapters of
Ulysses are a veiled reference to the different sections of the greek epic.
The story all takes place in the space of one day, the 16th of June, 1904, and follows the movements of two characters, Leopold Bloom and
Stephen Dedalus, through the streets of Dublin where they will eventually meet. While some chapters are descriptive and easy to understand, others are unstructured streams of thought that require study to comprehend. Every section contains many references to religion, politics, literature or philosophy and some of these are deeply hidden. Some scholars have spent a lifetime trying to understand the nuances of
Ulysses but none would claim to have discovered everything the book has to offer.
Joyce approaches a number of subjects considered taboo at the time (some still now) with complete honesty. These include defecation and masturbation and resulted in the book being at the centre of controversy for many years. Joyce also confronts the anti-semetic feelings in Dublin at the time through the protaganist, Bloom, who is Jewish.
Ulysses is a vastly complex book which requires many hours of concentrated study to understand but rewards the patient reader with a wealth of enjoyment. The imagery is colourful and potent, and the images Joyce paints of Dublin are deeply engaging. If you are able to withstand the initial frustration of trying to make sense of the complexity of the book, you will discover that understanding brings pleasure and you can join the relatively few who have seen a glimpse of Joyce's genius.
