“Reading two pages apiece of seven books every night, eh? I was young. You bowed to yourself in the mirror, stepping forward to applause earnestly, striking face. Hurray for the Goddamned idiot! Hray! No-one saw: tell no-one. Books you were going to write with letters for titles. Have you read his F? O yes, but I prefer Q. Yes, but W is wonderful. O yes, W. Remember your epiphanies on green oval leaves, deeply deep, copies to be sent if you died to all the great libraries of the world, including Alexandria? Someone was to read them there after a few thousand years, a mahamanvantara. Pico della Mirandola like. Ay, very like a whale. When one reads these strange pages of one long gone one feels that one is at one with one who once...”
Quote Analysis
In this quote from James Joyce's work, the narrator reflects on their past youthful ambitions and aspirations, highlighting the desire to be recognized and applauded for their intellect and literary pursuits. The narrator's inner thoughts and musings reveal a sense of self-importance and a yearning for recognition and immortality through their writing. The mention of epiphanies and the desire to have their works preserved in great libraries for future generations reflect a deeper longing for significance and impact beyond their own lifespan. The stream-of-consciousness style of Joyce's writing captures the complex and introspective nature of the narrator's thoughts, showcasing a mix of arrogance, insecurity, and a thirst for recognition in the world of literature.
Modern Relevance of James Joyce’s Reflection on Reading
In this passage, James Joyce captures the essence of the power of literature and the act of reading. He delves into the idea of immortality through writing, the connection between readers throughout time, and the impact of literature on individuals. Joyce's exploration of self-reflection, admiration, and the intimate relationship between readers and texts remains relevant in the modern world where the act of reading continues to shape and influence individuals.
Example of Usage
In this passage from James Joyce's work, the narrator reflects on their younger self's ambitious reading habits and aspirations to write books with unique titles. The stream-of-consciousness style of writing showcases the character's thought process and internal monologue as they reminisce about past epiphanies and literary preferences. The passage captures the complexity and introspective nature of Joyce's writing style.
Reflection Questions:
As you reflect on this passage by James Joyce, consider the following questions:
What do you think Joyce is trying to convey about the act of reading and writing in this excerpt?
How does the imagery of mirrors, applause, and stepping forward resonate with you in the context of self-reflection and achievement?
What significance do you find in the references to letters as titles for unwritten books, epiphanies on green oval leaves, and the idea of sharing thoughts with future generations through great libraries?
How does the use of stream-of-consciousness and references to literary figures like Pico della Mirandola add to the complexity and depth of this passage?
In what ways do you personally connect with the themes of solitude, creativity, legacy, and interconnectedness woven throughout these lines?
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“It is a very strange feeling when one is loving a clock that is to every one of your class of living an ugly and a foolish one and one really likes such a thing and likes it very much and liking it is a serious thing, or one likes a colored handkerchief that is very gay and every one of your kind of living thinks it a very ugly or a foolish thing and thinks you like it because it is a funny thing to like it and you like it with a serious feeling, or you like eating something that is a dirty thing and no one can really like that thing or you write a book and while you write it you are ashamed for every one must think you a silly or a crazy one and yet you write it and you are ashamed, you know you will be laughed at or pitied by every one and you have a queer feeling and you are not very certain and you go on writing. Then someone says yes to it, to something you are liking, or doing or making and then never again can you have completely such a feeling of being afraid and ashamed that you had then when you were writing or liking the thing and not any one had said yes about the thing.”
“If you take a book with you on a journey," Mo had said when he put the first one in her box, "an odd thing happens: The book begins collecting your memories. And forever after you have only to open that book to be back where you first read it. It will all come into your mind with the very first words: the sights you saw in that place, what it smelled like, the ice cream you ate while you were reading it... yes, books are like flypaper—memories cling to the printed page better than anything else.”
“There are countless reasons for reading, but when you’re young and uncertain of your identity, of who you may be, one of the most compelling is the quest to discover yourself reflected in the pages of a book.”