James Joyce's Ulysses
Where It's Always June 16, 1904
Calypso: Part II
By Joy Korejwo
It’s hard to imagine that James Joyce could encompass Homer’s epic Odyssey in one day in, yet this master of the modern novel accomplishes this feat in Ulysses, as well as reconstructing the idea of heroism as we know it.
Each chapter reflects a significant character of the Odyssey, though the parallels are not always clear at first glance. In chapter four, the Calypso episode, we first encounter Leopold Bloom and his wife, Molly. Though Bloom serves as one of the main protagonists, it is his wife that lends herself to the title of this chapter.
In the Greek myth, Calypso is a nymph (the daughter of Atlas) who falls in love with Odysseus when he is shipwrecked on her island. She holds him captive for seven years, keeping him from returning home to Ithaca. When Zeus decides that he should be set free, he sends his messenger, Hermes, to deliver the message. Calypso, although heartbroken, accepts the decision,. but gives her lover little aid in his departure.
Joyce, being well aware of this story, creates Molly and introduces her to the reader as a temptress rather than a dutiful wife. By doing this, it is easy to compare Molly to Calypso. Both women hold their lovers back from something; one from reaching home, the other from leaving home. Bloom cannot leave his wife alone, while Odysseus has no choice but to stay.
The power to control men lies in all women, yet whether or not they use this power openly is another matter. Molly has little need to directly seduce her husband since his preoccupation with her body and her breasts is obvious. Even her innocent call to the cat reflects her naturally seductive behavior. Calypso, though beautiful, must overtly seduce Odysseus since he is distraught and homesick.
Another similarity between the two women is their use for love. Calypso keeps Odysseus prisoner in order to have someone to love. Molly, on the other hand, has Bloom’s love and uses him as she pleases. Here we see Bloom’s desire for love and affection make him more like the nymph.
The seduction of men is a common theme in the two tales. The very first time we meet about Molly is in bed, which correlates to sex and desire. As one scholar points out, “the substantial lying late abed, reading pornographic literature and contemplating her assignation with a lusty Boylan,” (Hayman, 107) clearly denotes Molly’s impending adultery and her lust for another man. This parallels the Odyssey in two ways: one is the act of adultery which Odysseus commits several times, and two, the allure of the goddess awaiting her lover’s touch. As Calypso plots to have Odysseus, Molly plots to have Boylan.
The irony of Joyce’s work is who should be representing who. While Molly should represent the hero’s wife, Penelope, she comes off as Calypso, making a twist in the text and leaving the reader wandering how things will be reconciled. Another oddity is how two characters encompass one man. Both Boylan and Bloom can be compared to Odysseus in this section; Boylan as the sought lover and Bloom as the prisoner. Throughout the novel Joyce plays with idea of characters having more than one role and being able to change. This is similar to Odysseus’s journey home and how many changes within himself took place before he actually reached his destination, home.
Finally, as in any great novel, there is the presence of symbolism that reoccurs. In Calypso, the symbols are quite obvious, if one is familiar with both texts. The painting over the bed of The Bath of the Nymph works to reinforce the Calypso imagery of Molly. Also, there is the Bloom’s address, 7 Eccles Street, which corresponds to the seven years Odysseus spent on the island. It is these small details that Joyce employs to create a story intertwined with myth and modernism.
Annotated Bibliography
Davenport, Gary. "Joyce's Self Consciousness." Southern Review 27.4 (1991): 756-770.
Delves into the mind of Joyce and how he creates a modern novel.
Hayman, David. "The Emperical Molly." Approaches to Ulysses Ed. Thomas F. Stately and Bernard Benstock. Pittsburgh: UP Press, 1970. 107-109.
Gives a brief analysis of how Molly function as charcter and a woman.
Schwegel, Douglas. "Joyce's Ulysses, Calypso Epsiode." Explicator 27.49 (1960): 56-57.
A brief summary of the chapter.
Steinberg, Erwin R. "Mythological Complexities in Ulysses." Journal of Modern Literature 25.1 (2002): 121-128.
Talks about the subject of symbols and how they realte to mythology.
Wright, david G. Charcters of Joyce. Totowa, NJ: barnes and Nobles. 1983.
Gives an in depth summary of all of Joyce's main charcters.