CerebralMix 2015-03-29: Ulysses Episode Thirteen

The Oxen of The Sun episode from Ulysses is probably the biggest shock that one can have in reading this novel. The shifting of language styles (as discussed in last week’s show notes) is not only unexpected, but nothing short of a shock by today’s literary standards. However, this seemingly random exercise would be pointless if Joyce had lost the relationship between Ulysses and The Odyssey.

The primary theme of the story of Oxen of The Sun in The Odyssey is based on the actions of Odysseus’s men killing the cattle for food on the island of Helios. The cattle are considered sacred, so this act is avenged by Zeus on all accept for Odysseus, who was asleep when the sacrilegious act committed.

In Ulysses, the sacrilegious is committed through the profane and blasphemous discussion of pregnancy and birth, which is attacked on many levels by those gathered except for Stephen and Bloom. (Who, we are seeing in the same scene for the first time in the novel.) What is uniquely interesting about this is how the two men treat the subject. Bloom respects the sacred quality of “the birthing hour” with scientific explanations and sincerity. Meanwhile Stephen is left to philosophize on the religious nature of the birthing process. All the while the rest of the men discuss the social, clinical, social and financial aspects of birth, completely ignoring the potent female perspective.

Readings

In the past I’ve actually included the text of the poems or stories as part of the show notes. In the case of Ulysses that would be a bit on the incredibly heavy side. Instead I have produced a guide: CerebralMix Ulysses Series that provides the references that I am using, along with a show guide to the whole broadcast of this series.