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Chapter 14 / OXEN OF THE SUN - Bloom's role in his own cuckoldry: Chandra, I had a few comments on your reaction to Bloom in the novel as a "passive observer" of the adultery. This is a curious phenomenon, but centers just as much on his relationship with the dead son Rudy as with his wife Molly. In the Ithaca chapter, we learn that the Blooms have not had full sexual intercourse for approx. 10 years. Sure, they've done other things... Molly's monologue will reveal some ... but they are, at heart, rituals of sex and do not fulfull Bloom's husbandly duty to his wife. His fear is not principally of Molly or his sexual inadequacy (he proves once and for all with Gerty that he's not impotent), but his guilt over the death of Rudy. I refer you to a passage in the Hades chapter: around page 96 in the Vintage paperback. "Our. Little. Beggar. Baby. Meant nothing. Mistake of nature. If it's healthy it's from the mother. If not, the man. Better luck next time." -- Bloom's 'responsibility' for Rudy's death is the principal factor that has severed his sexual relationship with Molly. They haven't even mentioned it for God's sake! Imagine the isolation in that marriage... Although, Bloom still loves his wife. This is obvious from the first chapter we observe them, Calypso. Bloom's reminiscences about the first time he met Molly and his acknowledgement of her present beauty indicate that the relationship is still viable, only stalled. In Molly's monologue she too will reveal her present attraction to Bloom. The only reason Bloom concents to the adultery.... in fact, I would suggest that he is intimately involved in setting it up (as well as sending Milly away for the summer to insure its success)... is that he is trying to provide a solution to their barren sex life. By allowing Boylan to satisfy Molly, Bloom believes he is doing her a favor -- as sick and twisted as this notion is. One must remember that, at heart, Bloom is also sadomasochistic and his plans are almost always bumbling, although he means well. The passivity you mention is also strangely present in Steven. The principal characters seem swept along through the novel rather than chosing their next move. Hope this helps... Nathan. Nathan, I really like the whole of your post and in fact this topic (Bloom's assistance with the 4pm tryst between Molly and Boylan) has been the subject of debate lately on the e-group read-through of Ulysses. 2 things from your post above that prompt me to respond/question are as follows: *If, as you well argue, Bloom sees himself as responsible for the death of Rudy or at least feels guilty about it, why, when speaking to himself does he say: "Meant nothing"?? That could be I suppose be the basis of argument against this whole guilt-trip hypothesis?? - but would not of course rule out Bloom's clandestine arrangement/assitance with the Boylan/Molly assignation nonetheless. Are you able to extricate us (well, me anyways) from this seeming dilemma?? - I wouldn't doubt I have the wrong end of the stick - happens pretty frequently I think! [I do agree that the death of Rudy is the most likely causative factor in the breakdown of the sexual relationship between Molly and Bloom] *You state categorically that the Blooms have not ever mentioned 'it' - meaning the blame for Rudy's death I presume - but I wonder if you can advise of any textual support for this. I'm not challenging - just wondering. ========================================== As a connected aside someone (again on the egroup list) has put forward a theory that the whole of this adulterous affair may in fact be Leo hoping to obtain another child by proxy - if you like - in order to save/reignite the Blooms' relationship. And it is that desire for a child [a link I suppose with the theme of father searching for son] which explains Leo's either passive (staying away whilst cuckoldry occurs) or active (premeditated assistance/arrangement ) role in the sexual conquest of his wife. Does anyone have any comments?? Paul
Paul, The passage in Hades to which you refer is only one instance in the novel in which Bloom is reminded of the son that passed away 9 Jan, 1894 (see page 736). The remainder of this passage on 736 makes it clear that Bloom and Molly's communication has been effectively stalled since Milly's puberty but, because of other instances in the novel (I will be more specific in the next paragraph...), I am convinced that they have been limited since Rudy's death. The Hades quote, in which Bloom says "Meant nothing", must be taken in context with the rest of the day. Bloom's thoughts have been fixated on Rudy since the morning breakfast -- I would think it is a bit unusual for the memory of a dead child to 'haunt' Bloom's thoughts on a random day some ten years after his death. (( However, the possibility that Bloom wishes Molly to become pregnant through her adultery with Boylan and bare him another child is intriguing -- I've never thought about it that way. That would explain the preoccupation with Rudy -- However, the only objection I would make to that theory is the other character of the novel, Stephen Dedalus. Joyce has labored endlessly to fit Stephen and Poldy into the permutations of the father-son theme. In Ithaca, one of Bloom's intentions could be to secure Stephen as another lover for Molly, but I think the idea of having another child is secondary to a healing of his marital relationship.)) Anyway -- sorry for the digression -- the statement "Meant nothing" does not decrease the significance of Rudy in Bloom's emotional life; rather, it is another instance of his evasion. All throughout the day, he is adamant about finding something to do and something to think about other than Molly, other than the adultery, and other than the occurrence which shattered their lives -- the death of Rudy. It is only through his viewing of Stephen as a son (end of Circe chapter) that the remembrances of Rudy diminish dramatically and, by the end of the novel, become as insignificant to Bloom as the act of adultery itself. Through Stephen he is able to see his son as existing in a better place rather than still needing a father who is unable to provide any comfort. This is how I read the "Meant nothing" -- another example of Bloom examining, then dismissing, revisiting, and, finally, confronting the dilemmas of his marriage life. In addition to the cold "non-verbal" communication that occurs in the Calypso chapter: Molly's signalling to Bloom that the adultery will, in fact, occur that afternoon -- her use of the letter as a kind of flag -- Mrs. Marion. In Molly's final monologue, she muses on little Rudy and the consequences his death brought on: "That disheartened me altogether I suppose I oughtnt to have buried him in that little wooly jacket I knitted crying as I was but give it to some poor child but I knew well Id never have another our 1st death too it was we were never the same since" -- I read this last portion as not only indicating the rift in their sexual life, but also the breach in their communication. If the wounds of Rudy's death had been healed shortly after it occurred, Bloom's thoughts would 1) not be so emotionally disordered when thinking of him and 2)not be so intimately tied to the adultery. Other than this kind of piecing together of the novel, I cannot think of a passage that states explicitly that effective communication in the Bloom house ceased after Rudy's death. It is only my individual reading of the events. Hope this makes some sense.... Thanks so much for the feedback. Nathan. A minor clarification - (see above: " However, the possibility that Bloom wishes Molly to become pregnant through her adultery with Boylan and bare him another child is intriguing -- I've never thought about it that way. That would explain the preoccupation with Rudy -- ") it was MY projection of the father/son theme onto this child-hoping hypothesis and does not from the person who suggested it. The SD/LB:father/son thread throughout Ulysses is of course undeniable. But in the same way Bloom can be Christ or Odysseus etc at different times in the day so I suggest can other *possibilities* be entertained as to the thematic significance of veiled permutations of behavioural motivation. Another element which I find interesting is the suggestion that Bloom, if he actively found a lover for Molly, may have purposefully chosen BB for his shallow character, to ensure that BB would not stick around after the 4pm festivities. Molly's carnal nature will have had it's wick re-lit and Bloom would be able to step into the breach and resume their full sexual relationship. A child forthcoming at a later date will be more likely Bloom's in such circumstances. It was said that a cunning and devious plan such as this would be well within the capabilities of the great and wise Ulysses. There are no correct answers as usual but Molly sure does seem to love LB a lot by the end of the book!?@?*!!?!! Paul
I enjoyed Paul's considerations on the theme of Ulysses but I wonder if we should not be a little hesitant about assumptions regarding father and son. To take this literally tends to obscure the ironic attitude of the author and the delight that he so frequently took in a deliberately flat parallel to the Homeric model. If we look at the encounter between Bloom and Steven we perceive that Bloom tends to mother Stephen. At best he can only be regarded as a pro tem father and it would be difficult to cite any part of the text in which Stephen sees himself as in any way Bloom's son. This seems to be in the same area as Joyce's ironic use of the messenger in Telemachus. She is Athena, messenger from Zeus, but she ignores Stephen and gives all her attention to Buck and Haines. The idea that Bloom and Stephen have a father-son relationship may arise more from early critical comment than it does from anything in Ulysses. Bob Williams Nathan, Paul and others I have only read so far the two earlier posts by Nathan and Paul. And I really have problems with assuming what is said as Bloom's assistance with the 4pm tryst between Molly and Boylan. The reason is the following: if this theory holds good, it is an 'insult' to Molly, don't you guys agree? How can Bloom expect that he can set up a tryst between Molly and Boylan? As if Molly does not have her own ideas on the subject! Hum, that too when Molly is kind of based on Nora. Don't you people see the problem too?! (Please do not think that I did not enjoy your posts. Appreciate a lot the ideas you have put forward, and the way you have put them forward. Just trying to think and get my thoughts straight.) Bloom is a 'strange' though loveable guy. So far I have not seen any love he has for Stephen - as later posts said. Perhaps that comes in Circe or later. Bloom certainly loves Molly. May be that he why he is wandering around Dublin - not wishing to be in the way of Molly's pleasures - those that she has planned herself. Apart from this love (and the love for his daughter) I feel there is very little love in this book. May be one day is too short to feel lots of love! I don't know :-)) Just finished reading Oxen of the Sun. Am trying to decipher who said what / which paragraph. Has anybody decoded this aspect? Glanced at 'Circe'. That is going to be a real bloomer, I see!! Chandra Chandra I certainly didn't mean to imply that Molly doesn't have a say in the 4pm act of adultery. This is one of the reasons that Bloom (possibly) accepts Boylan -- he knows that Molly is attracted to him and also that Boylan can satisfy her sexually (just read the name -- connotations galore). With regard to your comments on Love in the novel... it is there, but, as in life, love in the novel is complicated by the circumstances of the day. Even when you first come upon Bloom, being ordered around by the bed-ridden Molly, his thoughts return to her beauty and the love he shared with her. He seems reluctant because, especially on the day of the adultery, he is re-evaluating his feelings for her. Does he still love her? Does she love him? Since he does come to understand these old feelings still exist -- What should be done next? The love is definitely there -- otherwise, all of Bloom's uncertainties and worries in the novel would be replaced with cool relaxation, and firm apathy. However, he is undertaking a truly EPIC task -- the rebuilding stage of his marriage which has been neglected for 10 long years. Good luck on continue d reading. Oxen of the Sun is a bit rough... hang in there. Circe's worth it. Nathan. HOME! |