A Study Of The Shakespearean Theme Of Ulysses

Joyce’s novel Ulysses has long been regarded as a sealed book for its obscure language,mythic structure and experimental techniques.The thesis holds that the Shakespearean theme in the novel can be used as a key to its interpretation.Taking Stephen’s theory on Shakespeare as the core,the Shakespearean theme realizes the symbolic combination of the two protagonists,which implies the artistic creation of the novel itself and allows Joyce to return to the world he created.This thesis is mainly divided into three parts : The first part is the introduction which expounds the motivation,briefly summarizes the research results in related fields at home and abroad,and leads to the research object.The second part is chapter two to chapter four.Chapter Two centers on Stephen’s theory on Shakespeare.The author argues that Stephen intended to take himself as the blueprint to shape Shakespeare as an isolated modern artist.Under his interpretation,Shakespeare became the symbol of the Artist and equated with the Creator in analogy.On the other hand,Shakespeare in the theory coincides with Bloom’s experience,to some extent,giving him the conditions to become an artist.However,the final combination of the two failed to produce an artist comparable to Shakespeare.The thesis argues that this result not only reflects the writer’s irony,but also represents the overall aesthetic intention of the novel.Chapter Three examines the Shakespearean theme in relation to the Homeric theme.The author believes that the relationship is reflected in two forms.First of all,the plot and structure of Hamlet and Odyssey echo each other.On this basis,the Homeric theme is successfully internalized and modernized.Secondly,Chapter 12 of the novel expresses Joyce’s political and national position through the transformation of Homer’s narration by Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida.Chapter Four focuses on the symbolic significance of the Shakespearean theme,arguing that it reveals the artistic creation of the novel itself.It is argued that the fiction in Stephen’s theory and the principle of mnemotechnic imply the way in which the novel is constructed.In the meanwhile Joyce,the author of the novel,practices his theory of artistic creation delivered by his character,returning to his artistic world with the mask of Shakespeare’s symbol.The third part is the conclusion,which briefly summarizes the previous views,and prospects the possible research directions in the future based on the European background of Stephen’s theory.