Jj Midterm

8/12/2019 Jj Midterm

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Jack Patterson

3/22/13

CMPL 367Jed Deppman

Lucifers Fall, From Portraitto Ulysses

One of Stephens g!d!ng aesthet!c "og!cs !s the attempt to prodce poet!ca""# a s#nthes!s

of sensa" !mpress!ons$ a render!ng of sensat!on !nto "angage% &n 'othPortrait and Ulysses(e

see Stephen tr#!ng to (r!te$ and e)en "!)e$ profond"# (!th!n the reg!ster of the *!ne"cta'"e

moda"!t!es+ of the )!sa" and the ad!tor#% ,he d!fferences$ ho(e)er$ 'et(een the t(o (orks

dep!ct!ons of Stephens e-per!ence of sensat!on.'ased aesthet!cs are e-treme"# !mportant% h!"e

sho(!ng Stephen !n aesthet!c re)er!e$ (hether !t 'e compos!ng or s!mp"# sensa""# perce!)!ng the

(or"d$Portraitoften treads hea)!"# on the sensa""# !mpress!on!st!c% 0t Ulysses$ dr!ng

Stephens moments of re)er!e$ !s mch more st#"!st!ca""# heterogeneos$ f"" of d!ffse

"!ng!st!c reg!sters and te-ta" assoc!at!ons$ creat!ng the sense of a thoght that !s mch more

a'stract$ te-ta"$ referent!a" thanPortraits '"!sses !n Ulyssesthere are no pre"# or serene"#

(r!tten moments of Stephens aesthet!c percept!on% ,he t(o (orks are a"so !te d!fferent !n

terms of Stephens character%Portraitsho(s Stephen at moments ascend!ng !nto e-treme

sp!r!ta" ephor!a 4(h!"e compos!ng poetr# and perce!)!ng the g!r" on the 'each5$ (h!"e Ulysses

sho(s h!m tryingto 'r!ng h!mse"f to(ard a s!m!"ar transcendence$ 't "t!mate"# fa!"!ng$ and

fa""!ng !nto 'rood!ng ang!sh 4th!s happens !n *Protes+5% &t !s !mportant to std# these )ast

d!fferences 'et(een the no)e"s more f""#$ !n order to get a hand"e not on"# on Stephens

aesthet!c !dea"s .. the!r or!g!ns$ the!r "og!c$ the!r goa"s .. 't a"so on Jo#ces ne( art!st!c po!nt of

)!e( !n Ulysses$ !te d!fferent from that ofPortrait$ and the !mp"!cat!ons thereof for or read!ng

of Ulysses%

&n the "atter segments ofPortraits chapter $ Stephen fee"s deep"# the sensa" d!mens!ons


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of "angage% e dra(s forth a phrase from gh M!""er8 *9 da# of dapp"ed sea'orne c"ods$+

and fee"s the "angages sensa" resonances8 *,he phrase and the da# and the scene harmon!sed

!n a chord% ords% as !t the!r co"ors: e a""o(ed them to g"o( and fade$ he after he$ snr!se

go"d$ the rsset and green of app"e orchards$ a;re of (a)es$ the gre#fr!nged f"eece of c"ods%


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"oath!ng prodced '# pornograph!c or d!dact!c art$ (h!ch are not aesthet!c$ *AtBhe esthet!c

emot!on !s stat!c% ,he m!nd !s arrested and ra!sed a'o)e des!re and "oath!ng+ 42225% C"ear !n

th!s stas!s$ and the ra!s!ng !nherent to !t$ are assoc!at!ons (!th Chr!st!an re)e"at!on the so"

transcends 'aseness throgh aesthet!cs% 9"so !mportant to note !s Stephens descr!pt!on of the

stas!s as an *!dea" p!t# or an !dea" terror+ 42235% hat (e perce!)e (hen (e perce!)e

aesthet!ca""#$ he th!nks$ are ideal forms. Stephens art at th!s moment a!ms not at part!c"ars$

(h!ch he th!nks mere"# arose ph#s!ca" "oath!ng and des!re$ 't !dea" forms$ (h!ch !n the!r

!dea"!t# prodce stas!s% ,he concept of !dea" here !s stra!ght ot of 9r!stot"e and 9!nas%

9r!stot"e re@ected P"atos not!on of !dea" forms$ (h!ch (as that !dea" forms e-!st apart from a""

part!c"ars 't 9r!stot"e reta!ned a certa!n sense of the !dea"% 9r!stot"e soght tofind!dea" forms

!n part!c"ars throgh apprehend!ng them !n the!r whatness$ he thoght the!r deeper essences

co"d 'e re)ea"ed% So the !dea"$ for 9r!stot"e$ 9!nas$ and Stephen$ !s an !dea" essence of a

part!c"ar 'od# that !s constred$ throgh sensa" apprehens!on$ of that part!c"ar 'od# as one

'od#% ,he !dea" !s not to 'e arr!)ed at rat!ona""#$ 't sensa""#% Stephen then th!nks of h!s art as a

ca""!ng.forth of transcendent essences throgh "angage%

e see stra!ns of these "!nes of thoght throghotPortrait$ appear!ng !n d!)erse (a#s$

and sho(!ng s that Stephens o(n 'rand of art!st!c m#st!c!sm d!rects !tse"f to(ards 'e#onds

and !dea"!t!es% a"k!ng throgh D'"!n$ Stephen hears pop"ar )erse$ *dr!)e"$+ on the street$

(h!ch !nc"des the (ord *!)#$+ and h!s m!nd$ d!gest!ng th!s$ presents forth the (ord *!)or#%+

hen he hears the (ord !)or# !n h!s m!nd$ a )!s!on of !)or# f"ashes rad!ant"#8 *,he (ord no(

shone !n h!s 'ra!n$ c"earer and 'r!ghter than an# !)or# sa(n from the mott"ed tsks of e"ephants+

4135% ,h!s (ord$ as s!gn!f!cat!on of !)or#$ ca""s forth an !mage of !)or# so deep"# that the !)or#

he sees !s (h!ter than an# rea" !)or# !n e-!stence (hat he sees !s the !dea" form$ the essence$ of


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!)or#% Ear"!er$ (hen Stephen !s on the 'each$ he sees a g!r" stand!ng at the (aters edge8 *She

seemed "!ke one (hom mag!c had changed !nto the "!keness of a strange and 'eat!f" sea'!rd+

41=?5% &nstant"# pon see!ng her$ the mag!c of sensa""# apprehend!ng her !n a"" her whatness

transforms her !n h!s m!nd !nto (hat !s perhaps her o(n !dea" form8 that of a '!rd% e th!nks on

the ne-t page that th!s g!r" (as an ange"8 *9 (!"d ange" had appeared to h!m$ the ange" of morta"

#oth and 'eat#+ 41=65% Perce!)!ng th!s part!c"ar g!r" !s for Stephen noth!ng "ess than a

revelation$ a sp!r!ta" man!festat!on of a 'e#ond8 the !dea" of 'eat# !tse"f$ perhaps% 9nd he

doesnt con@re th!s !dea" p !n h!s head$ he th!nks he proper"#sees!t$ throgh a s#nthet!c

sensa"!t#%

,h!s aesthet!c frame(ork of sensa"!t# !s a"so fond !n one of Stephens moments of

compos!ng poetr# dr!ngPortait$ after he has a(oken from a dream of *seraph!c "!fe+8 *Are you

not weary of ardent ways, /Lure of the fallen seraphim? / Tell no more of enchanted days% ,he

)erses passed from h!s m!nd to h!s "!ps and$ mrmr!ng them o)er$ he fe"t the rh#thm!c

mo)ement of a )!""ane""e pass throgh them% ,he rose"!ke g"o( sent forth !ts ra#s of rh#me

(a#s$ da#s$ '"a;e$ pra!se$ ra!se% &ts ra#s 'rned p the (or"d$ consmed the hearts of men and

ange"s+ 42365% hen these )erses emerge from Stephens m!nd$ ot throgh h!s "!ps !nto sond$

and 'ack aga!n !nto h!s m!nd !nto deeper aesthet!c sensat!on$ the ra#s of the poem 'rn the (ho"e

(or"d !n the!r po(er$ affect!ng 'oth men and ange"s% ,he poem 'ecomes more than sond$ more

than !mages8 !t creates a rad!ance% &n th!s case$ the stat!c !dea"!t# presented !s that of the (!"f"

heart of h!s 'e"o)ed%

&n *Protes$+ there !s a "ot of 9r!stote"!an.9!n!an aesthet!c theor# f"oat!ng arond !n

Stephens m!nd he st!"" seems to 'e th!nk!ng !n the same aesthet!c terms he e-ponds and enacts

!nPortrait% ,he (a# !t p"a#s ot$ ho(e)er$ !s !te d!fferent a c"ose read!ng of mch of the


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chapter !s necessar#% &n the f!rst "!ne of +Protes$+ he th!nks8 *&ne"cta'"e moda"!t# of the )!s!'"e8

at "east that !f no more$ thoght throgh m# e#es+ 43815% e seems to 'e th!nk!ng to h!mse"f$ after

h!s m!sera'"e t!me (!th Deas#$ that thogh h!s "!fe !s a(f"$ at "east he st!"" has th!s )!sa"!t#$ th!s

!ne"cta'"e moda"!t# of percept!on$ (h!ch can a""o( h!m to comprehend th!ngs !n a deeper$

aesthet!c$ !dea" (a#8 *S!gnatres of a"" th!ngs & am here to read+ 43825% ,hrogh the d!aphane$ he

th!nks$ ma#'e he can st!"" render the (or"d arond h!m !nto s#ntheses$ to see the quidditasof

th!ngs% e mo)es on$ !n h!s thoghts$ to the moda"!t# of the ad!'"e% e hears h!s 'oots crsh!ng

she""s8 *Fo are (a"k!ng throgh !t ho(some)er% & am$ a str!de at a t!me% 9 )er# short space of

t!me throgh )er# short t!mes of space% G!)e$ s!-8 theNacheinander+ 43811.135% ,h!s !s a

cons!derat!on of the aesthet!c effects of seent!a" sond the Herman (ord$ !n Less!ngs theor#$

means *!n sccess!on%+ e th!nks as h!s 'oots crsh8 *9m & (a"k!ng !nto etern!t# a"ong

Sand#mont strand: Crsh$ crack$ cr!ck$ cr!ck+ 4381=.15% !s contemp"at!on of the sonds$ not

@st the!r !nd!)!da" propert!es 't rather the!r rh#thm!c !nterre"at!ons (!th one another$ prodces

an aesthet!c effect8 !t makes h!m fee" that he !s (a"k!ng !nto etern!t#$ !dea"!t#$ stas!s$ the 'e#ond%

,h!s aesthet!c re)er!e !s !nterrpted (hen he sees therauen!immer% e starts to "ook at

them$ and h!s sor$ ma"!gnant mood to(ard the (or"d re)ea"s !tse"f aga!n$ (hen he th!nks the#

ma# 'e carr#!ng a m!s'!rth !n (oo"% e then descends !nto despondent thoghts for pages8 a'ot

h!s o(n '!rth$ h!s dead mother$ h!s father$ C"ongo(es$ Par!s$ and h!s pre)!os "!terar# niaiseries%

0t then he sees the Eg#pt!ans approach!ng$ "ooks at the (oman more c"ose"#$ and 'eg!ns to

morose"# de"ectate on her se-a"!t#% 9"ong these "!nes h!s m!nd !s mo)ed to prodce )erse% e

th!nks a'ot k!ss!ng th!s (oman$ and starts to make the sonds of a poem8 *!s "!ps "!pped and

mothed f"esh"ess "!ps of a!r8 moth to her moom'% Oom'$ a""(om'!ng tom'% !s moth

mo"ded !ss!ng 'reath$ nspeeched$ ooeehah8 roar of cataract!c p"anets$ g"o'ed$ '"a;!ng$ roar!ng


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(a#a(a#a(a#a(a#+ 438>1.5% ,h!s moment d!rect"# references the scene of Stephens

compos!t!on of the seraph!m poem !nPortrait$ (!th Stephens moth!ng of (ords and the

conseent ca""!ng forth of a'stract !mages of p"anets and f"ames 4the (ord '"a;e appears !n

'oth passages5% !s )erse !s form!ng !tse"f (!th!n the moda"!t# of the ad!'"e as (e"" as the

)!sa"$ and someth!ng !dea" seems to 'e emerg!ng%

e fee"s that he !s 'r!ng!ng th!s (oman ot of her part!c"ar!t!es and !nto the 'e#ond$ '#

process!ng her throgh h!s sensa" poet!cs8 *


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f"oat!ng foampoo"$ f"o(er nfr"!ng+ 438?.6>5% ,he reference to the f"o(er g!)es th!s moment a

frther !ron!c t!nge$ 'ecase !t reca""s the scene !nPortrait(here Stephen has a d!)!ne and

ecstat!c )!s!on of a 'e#ond8 *!s so" (as s(oon!ng !nto some ne( (or"d%%% 9 (or"d$ a g"!mmer$

or a f"o(er: H"!mmer!ng and trem'"!ng$ trem'"!ng and nfo"d!ng$ a 'reak!ng "!ght+ 41=75% ,he

fact that Stephen th!nks of h!s p!ss as nfo"d!ng !n the same terms as the d!)!ne f"o(er he sa( !n

Portraitc"ear"# sho(s an n!dea" perspect!)e on art 'eg!nn!ng to emerge (!th!n h!m%

e are frther compe""ed to dra( para""e"s 'et(een *Protes+ and Stephens ecstat!c

a(aken!ng scene fromPortrait$ 'ecase 'oth take p"ace on a 'each% 9nd compar!ng the scenes

(!th one another he"ps s nderstand (hat happens to Stephen dr!ng h!s strange me"ancho"# !n

the f!na" moments of *Protes%+ &nPortrait$ a fe( pages 'efore see!ng the *ange" of morta" #oth

and 'eat#$+ Stephen "ooks at the sea$ fear!ng !t deep"#8 *a fa!nt thro' !n h!s heart to"d h!m once

more of ho( h!s f"esh dreaded the co"d !nfrahman odor of the sea+ 41=15% e !s "ater a'"e to

escape th!s fear (hen h!s so" e-"ts !n the profane @o# of the !dea" 'eat# of the g!r" and$

escap!ng the sea$ he f!nds d!)!ne refge !n mother earth8 *the earth 'eneath h!m$ the earth that

had 'orne h!m$ had taken h!m to her 'reast+ 41=75%

0t !n Ulysses$ someth!ng !te d!fferent happens% 9fter a'ort!ng h!s poem$ ref"ect!ng on

the mass of deadness that srronds h!m 4*Dead 'reaths & "!)!ng 'reathe%%%+5$ he fee"s mor'!d"#

the sea insideh!mse"f8 *9 seachange th!s$ 'ro(n e#es sa"t'"e% Seadeath$ m!"dest of a"" deaths

kno(n to man+ 438=2.5% Someho( he !s 'ecom!ng c"oser to the sea$ and someth!ng of h!mse"f

!s d#!ng% e th!nks h!s teeth are rott!ng$ and "!kens them to she""s% e compares h!mse"f to

Lc!fer8 *9""'r!ght he fa""s$ prod"!ghtn!ng of the !nte""ect$Lucifer+ 438=6.75$ 't !s not a'"e to

accept !t f""# 4*


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&mp"!c!t !n th!s (ho"e descent !s that Stephen !s start!ng$ consc!os"# or nconsc!os"#$ to

renonce h!s former aesthet!c pretens!ons to !dea"!t#% hen he smears h!s snot on a rock and

th!nks that (hoe)er (!"" see !t (!"" see !t$ he !s mock!ng h!s ear"!er !deas a'ot atta!n!ng

eterna"!t# throgh readers% ,h!s concept of "!terar# etern!t# !s o'ser)a'"e !n *Protes+ (hen he !s

compos!ng the poem 4*End"ess$ (o"d !t 'e m!ne$ form of m# form: ho e)er an#(here (!""

read these (r!tten (ords:+ A3813.1?B5% 9t th!s moment$ thogh he th!nks a'ot the poss!'"e

eterna"ness of h!s so" throgh "!teratre$ Stephen !s c"ear"# a"read# start!ng to do't the poss!'"e

end"essness of h!s prose 4*Some(here to someone !n #or f"t!est )o!ce+ A381?.16B5% ,h!s des!re

for eterna"ness mocked '# h!s remark a'ot the snot !s a"so o'ser)a'"e ear"!er !n the chapter$ a"so

mock!ng"#$ (hen he th!nks of h!s ear"!er (r!t!ngs8 *Iemem'er #or ep!phan!es %%% cop!es to 'e

sent !f #o d!ed to a"" the great "!'rar!es of the (or"d$ !nc"d!ng 9"e-andr!a: Someone (as to read

them there after a fe( thosand #ears%%% hen one reads these strange pages of one "ong gone

one fee"s that one !s at one (!th one (ho once %%%+ 43811.65% Stephen throghot *Protes$+ !s

alreadydo'tf" of h!s poet!c !ntegr!t#% ,hogh he tr!es (r!t!ng aga!n !n the !dea" mode$ tr!es to

'r!ng the Eg#pt!an !nto the 'e#ond$ he fa!"s$ and fee"s that he has fa""en from a former

#othf"ness and monk!sh pr!t#%

o( can (e nderstand Stephens apparent rennc!at!on of h!s former aesthet!c theor!es:

Iegard!ng !ts case$ !t !s c"ear that the Stephen of Ulysses!s mch more dor than the Stephen of

Portraitand that the pr!mar# reason for th!s !s the death of h!s mother% Stephens ref"ect!ons on

the horr!f!c onto"og# of hman and an!ma" 'od!es !n *Protes$+ and h!s thoghts on the frag!"!t#

of hman "!fe !n *


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sorce of "!fe seems to !nform h!s th!rst for the eterna" he pra#s$ *And now thy very face and

form, dear mother, spea" to us of the #ternal$ not li"e earthly %eauty, dangerous to loo" upon,

%ut li"e the morning star which is thy em%lem, %right and musical& 41?>5% Perhaps the death of

h!s o(n mother makes Stephen no "onger a'"e to fantas!;e a'ot eterna" th!ngs no "onger a'"e to

f!nd refge !n the (arm 'od# of mother earth$ he dro(ns !n the co"d ga;e of *O"d Gather Ocean+

438=35% See!ng the sorce of h!s "!fe d!e has perhaps reshaped 'oth h!mse"f and h!s !dea of h!s

o(n art%

,he )er# form of Ulyssessho(s c"ear"# that Stephens !dea" and a""'r!ght aesthet!c

concepts$ so "aded !nPortrait$ (!"" no "onger 'e taken as g!deposts !n nderstand!ng Jo#ces

o(n (ork% Perhaps (hat Stephen does (hen he starts to th!nk of the proper nons srrond!ng

the )!rg!n at odges !s !n part (hat Jo#ce has done !n Ulysses8 g!)en art!st!c (e!ght to the

part!c"ar$ the spec!f!c$ the hapha;ard fragments of "!fe$ !nstead of tr#!ng to 'ase h!s aesthet!cs

pon the re)e"at!on of !dea" essences%

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