A Study Of The Urban Space In James Joyce's Ulysses

Ulysses is a classic work of James Joyce and the masterpiece of modernist literature.It gives detailed description and unique representation to Dublin's urban space.Through writing specific landscapes,spatial practices and inner experiences of citizens in urban space,Joyce gives his reflection on Dublin's modernity and Irish colonial identity.By drawing on relevant theories of modernity and urban space,this thesis discusses the various forms of urban space,the multiple characteristics of modernity as well as the colonial identity in Ulysses' urban space.The space theories in this thesis include Lefebvre's “social space” and “space politics”,Foucault's “heterotopia” and “micro-power”,Benjamin's exposition on flaneurs,De Certeau's discussions of urban residents' spatial practices and Mike Crang's study of cultural geography.This thesis studies various forms of urban space in Ulysses: the commercial space,the entertainment space,the working space and the domestic space.The spatial structure and social functions of streets,pubs and trams depicted in this book highlight the contingency and transiency in urban space.The oppositional spaces,streets and the limited view of pedestrian cause the fragmentation and mobility.Bloom's dirty and crowded domestic space which lack intimate relationship,the indifference and precaution of the passengers in the trams and the lonely flaneurs all reflect the alienation among individuals and their desires for intimacy in the urban space.The colonial identity of Dublin in Ulysses mainly embodies in the imbalanced spatial power.The round gunrest which represent the nationalism and the Nelson's pillar which stand for the spirit of imperial colonization form a strong contrast in their spatial structures and ideologies;the Viceregal cavalcade which quickly pass through the streets represents the supremacy of imperial rule,rulers' supervision to citizens and their showing off of power.Through the above study,this thesis finds that the urban space in Ulysses not only shows the urban landscape and citizen's lives in Dublin in the 20 th century,but also gives expression to author's representation and reflection on the issues of urban modernity and Irish colonial identity.The Dublin constructed by Joyce is characterized with the capitalist modernity as well as the obvious colonial identity,and the two do not contradict with each other.