Nationalism in James - Joyce's - Ulysses

Nationalism in James Joyce's Ulysses
[PP: 16-30]
Bahee Hadaegh
Department of Foreign Languages & Linguistics, Shiraz University
Iran
Siamak Shahabi
Department of Foreign Languages & Linguistics, Shiraz University
Iran
ABSTRACT
In the present article, the role of nationalism and postcolonialism in James Joyce's Ulysses is explored. The
novel is used to reveal the political and postcolonial layers of Joyce's work and represent how colonization
works through politics. This helps the readers to realize more about political Joyce and to apprehend his
political views as a fresh reading of his oeuvre. The significance of this article is to depict how an author
from a colonized society is influenced by the colonizing forces and cultural invasions and to scrutinize the
very psychology of a colonized nation. This task is done through Attridge and Howes's methodology as the
theoretical framework containing key roles in analyzing the main discussion. Through analyzing Ulysses,
this article clearly shows that Joyce was a part of nationalistic movements such as the Irish Revival; however
he had major conflicts with some individuals and movements that claimed to be nationalists. Therefore, Joyce
is concluded to be a 'semicolonial' writer who has his own specific mode of nationalism.
Keywords: Nationalism, Postcolonialism, James Joyce, Ireland, Semicolonialism
ARTICLE The paper received on: 28/11/2015 , Reviewed on: 17/01/2016, Accepted after revisions on: 06/02/2016
INFO
Suggested citation:
Hadaegh, B. & Shahabi, S. (2016). Nationalism in James Joyce's Ulysses. International Journal of English
Language & Translation Studies. 4(1), 16-30. Retrieved from http://www.eltsjournal.org
1. Introduction through the colonized culture, politics and

1.1 Nationalism in Ulysses even literature. Considering it as a literary
The history of observing colonialism theory, postcolonial literature is concerned
and nationalism in Ireland is not a new with literature produced in countries once
issue. But a political study of Joyce's works colonized by other countries, especially
is considered as a new area of investigation. those countries which were colonized by
Postcolonial theory delves into the struggle European colonial powers, and also the
of power in countries which have been literature written by citizens of colonial
colonized. The colonizer attempts to break
Nationalism in James Joyce's Ulysses Hadaegh, Bahee & Shahabi, Siamak
countries, about the colonized people as its of Trieste prove this matter. In fact, they are
subject matter. the proofs of political Joyce and good
James Joyce is a writer who makes the sources of reference for a new analysis of
best use of different discourses to discuss his works and views.
the colonial power and its attempts to 2. Methodology
subjugate the Irish nation. The way Joyce The main methodology of this article
portraits Ireland and its relationship with has to do with the core issues and principles
England or the English empire has been the of nationalism and politics inspired by
subject of much scholarly research. Earlier Derek Attridge and Marjorie Howes. As
readings of Joyce such as those by Stuart Attridge and Howes put it, "semicolonial"
Gilbert, Richard Ellmann, and Frank Joyce can be defined as a political Joyce
Budgen focus on the absorbing aspect of who is neither a nationalist nor an anti-
Joyce's writing which depicts the national nationalist. Emer Nolan analyzes the same
boundaries of the time. Beginning by issue. The present article benefits from their
Dominic Manganiello's Joyce's Politics observations in order to assemble a good
(1980), many critics realize that they can amount of practical reasons to come to a
observe Joyce apart from his native country. unified conclusion about political Joyce and
While, despite his exile which was self- his attitude towards nationalism.
imposed, he never left Ireland mentally. Analyzing Joyce's Ulysses under this
Dublin and Ireland have always been two methodology brings together primary
dominant subjects of his works. In order to commentators on the Irish dimension of
understand Joyce better, it is important to Joyce's writing. Contributors explore
realize the fact that Joyce is a political Joyce's undecided and changing response to
writer who is deeply involved in the Irish nationalism and reassess his writing in
political conditions of Ireland. Here, the the context of the history of Western
economic and social forces which shaped colonialism. The article tries to provide
him as an artist are significant. fresh insights into Joyce's ingenious
Evoking and complicating oppositions commitment with political issues that
at the same time is a characteristic of Joyce's remain highly relevant today. The main
works. It roots in his interest in political and approach which suits this paper well is
ethnic issues. Attridge and Howes (2000) postcolonialism as it includes many
believe that philosophically James Joyce different aspects such as religion, social
can be considered a separatist and a unionist phenomena, historical events, nationalism,
at the same time. Joyce even separates and politics, etc. which all play vital roles in
unites notions like undecideability and Joyce’s works.
hybridity. As a result of this combination, Nationalism in relation with
they cannot be defined or functioned colonialism and historical events of the era
separately. He actually makes a connection such as Irish resistance and religious
between two separated issues. For each conflicts are scrutinized and discussed in
issue, separatism and unionism, we have this article. Ireland is colonized by the
two equals in Joyce's mind and writings, British Empire through the traditional way
nationalism and anti-nationalism. He does of colonization and one comes to the
not actually belong to either party. His realization that the concept of the resistance
works, letters, lectures, and articles in or out of the Irish is not actually the resistance of
International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies ISSN:2308-5460
Volume: 04 Issue: 01 January- March, 2016
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a non-European country. In fact, Ireland has The connection between material and
a special situation. Therefore, Nationalism metaphorical space and between a nation's
and postcolonialism in Ireland needs its modernity and capitalist modernity are
own way of analysis. being considered as critical issues. There
3. Literature Review are scholars who believe that Ireland's
Ezra Pound in 1922 commented that in entrance into a colonial modernity was
Ulysses Ireland is presented under the shocking and rough. Scholars like Hechter
"British yoke" (p. 17). But it was not until (Internal Colonialism, 1975), Gibbons
the very end of 1970s that Irish-British (Transformations, 1996) and Eagleton
relationship was being scrutinized in (Heathcliff and the Great Hunger, 1995)
Joycean studies. Most of the works dealing believe that colonial Ireland was not an
with different aspects of Joyce and the underdeveloped country. James Joyce is
relation of his works to colonial and known as a writer who is against colonial
postcolonial studies, politics and power of the empire. Vincent Cheng in
nationalism do not start from a certain point Joyce, Race and Empire (1995), introduces
and get to the same place. Joyce as a postcolonial writer. His works
The 1980s saw the appearance of a few have been read politically in Manganiello's
essays which place Joyce in the context of Joyce's Politics (1980) and it is stated that
Irish history and Irish nationalism like Joyce is evidently hostile towards all
Deane's New Perspectives, Fredric political state formations. His view of
Jameson's "Ulysses in History," and Tom nationalism has become clearer in Breuilly's
Pauline’s "The Irish Presence in Ulysses," Nationalism and the State (1993).
but when the historical issues got back on In general, according to Lloyd (1993),
the agenda in the following decade, the nationalism is believed to be a "political
studies continued with Deane's chapter phenomenon" (p. 276). Therefore "the
"Joyce the Irishman" in The Cambridge critique of nationalism is inseparable from
Companion to James Joyce (Attridge, the critique of post-colonial domination."
2004) and the discussions of Joyce by (Lloyd, 1993, p. 115). Lloyd discussed a
Deane, Eagleton, and Jameson in the Field kind of hybridity in the Irish culture, a
Day collection entitled Nationalism, hybridity which includes many nationalists.
Colonialism, and Literature (Eagleton et In Anomalous States, Lloyd (1993) asserts:
al., 1990) followed by a series of books that Irish streets ballads and folk songs are
pursued issues of Irish nationalism, read, against nationalist refinements of
colonialism, and postcoloniality: Enda them, as being vital representations of
Duffy's The Subaltern "Ulysses" (1994); the hybridity of a colonial culture. That
Vincent J. Cheng's Joyce, Race, and Empire these songs, while stylistically and
(1995); Emer Nolan's James Joyce and tonally inassimilable to nationalist
Nationalism (1995); and the volume representations, were nonetheless sites
entitled Joyce: Feminism / Post/ of resistance and possibly even means of
Colonialism, edited by Ellen Carol Jones popular instruction, illuminates the
(1998). politics of style in Ulysses in relation to
Homi Bhabha (1994) and Smith's ways a popular rather than aesthetic
of looking at issues are complementary. consciousness. Both Ulysses and this
They both examine the concerns which are popular tradition are recalcitrant to the
at the center of the problems of a nation. emergent nationalist as to the imperial
Cite this article as: Hadaegh, B. & Shahabi, S. (2016). Nationalism in James Joyce's Ulysses. International
Journal of English Language & Translation Studies. 4(1), 16-30. Retrieved from http://www.eltsjournal.org
Page | 18
state formation previously in refusing "beneficiary" of it as well. There are some

the homogeneity of "style" required for elements that link the Irish closer to their
national citizenship. (p. II) "dominant" British neighbors than with
Emer Nolan (2004) believes that other postcolonial societies and nations;
Lloyd's original discussion that Ulysses elements such as "geographical proximity,
comes from the unitary style which is common language and skin color, and
supported by nationalism cannot be shared prosperity" (Brady, 1994).
accepted. So it can be concluded that the 4. Analysis and Discussion
subaltern critic believed that in Joyce's It is assumed that being under the rule
works we hear the voices of other in Irish of British colonialism affected Ireland in
modernity movement (Nolan, 2004). various ways. It became a combination of
Nolan (1995) believes that these cannot the archaic and the modern. Social
be considered as voices of "individuals but transformations of the nineteenth century,
voices of fragments" which are made from Great Famine of the 1840s, and many other
a modernization conducted by colonial or social elements resulted in rapid transition
postcolonial state, the postcolonial state to modernity. The main states of change
which is a symbol for national state, and can were social organizations and other
stand for nationalists. As Joyce cannot be important matters of the rural society of
placed among neither the nationalists nor those ages such as agricultural productions
the anti-nationalists and definitely not and the rise of the strong farmer. Social
among those who were in favor of state, so penetration of Britain was hugely
it is ambiguous for the critics to identify his demonstrated in those days.
protagonists, like Portrait's and Ulysses's Historians believe that "social
Stephan as a member of any group or laboratory in which Englishmen were
political side. prepared to conduct experiments in
Edward Said's Orientalism (1978) is "a government which contemporary opinion at
Western style for dominating, home was not prepared to tolerate." (Lyons,
reconstructing, and having authority over 1982, p. 74). Ireland had its own national
the orient" (Said, p. 3). While Lisa Lowe school system. Terry Eagleton (1990) states
(1994) states that orientalist strategies are "[by] 1850, Ireland had won of the most
"not exclusively deployed by European or commercially advanced agricultures in the
colonial rule, but articulated… by a variety world, and was fast developing one of the
of dominant and emergent positions or the world's densest railway systems" (Eagleton,
critical terrain" (p. 12). But which one is the 1990, p. 274). Ireland's rush in
real Ireland? Is it considered to be a modernization resulted in a nationalism
dominant emergent culture? Many which was very different from the static
postcolonial critics favor the negative nationalism of other European countries.
influence of British imperialism as the These issues are important when the readers
dominant factor in Ireland's history. In fact come to characters like Stephan Dedalus
they encourage any analogical links who rejects conventions and traditions of a
between the Irish people and other nation, which are partly offered by cultural
"emergent" ethnic groups. nationalism.
Some revisionists think that Ireland In "Ireland, Island of saints and Sages",
was not only a victim of the empire but a it may be realized that Joyce believes the
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Irish to be hybrids, "compounded of the old different, although each discourse belongs
Celtic stock and the Scandinavian, Anglo- to a very different political position.
Saxon and Norman races… with the various In Inventing Ireland (1996), Declan
elements mingling and renewing the ancient Kiberd states that: "if [nationalist
body" (Joyce, 1907, p. 161). Joyce's intellectuals] were to create an authentic
Orientalist assertion of exotic complicates movement, … if they were to invent
the Unionist view that Ireland's political Ireland, they must first invent the Irish"
future must be determined as it is (Kiberd, p. 100-136). This builds an
considered as a part of Britain, an important important question: Is the national self-
part which is the West Britain in fact. Of definition an invention or it is authentic?
course, the Irish culture is not only Emer Nolan believes that "authenticity"
influenced by the British culture but by the continues to be a major theme in the works
Atlantic Ocean with many other older of Irish scholars (such as Richard Kearney),
cultures. "whereas the [post-structuralist] theorists to
Joyce's emphasis is on the historical which they are occasionally indebted attack
connection between Ireland and the very idea of a self to which one might
Mediterranean. According to some be true or false" (as cited in Attridge &
historical proofs and myths, Joyce discusses Howes, 2000, p. 243).
this matter. He believes in a mystic The issue of cultural identity is a
connection of these two in his writing. critical one for Irish society and in Joyce's
In Joyce's works there is the discourse works. In Transformations, Luke Gibbons
of "otherness" which is the product of the (1996) has also argued that we should
process of "othering". The Irish were question any generalizations about a
defined through their differences with the cultural identity: "It is important not only to
English and therefore they were depicted as re-think but to re-figure Irish identity, to
"other" by the English. The features of this attend to those recalcitrant areas of
other nation were as quaint, primitive, and expertise which simply do not lend
wild Irish. This is a discourse which themselves to certainty , and which impel
justifies and even encourages barbaric societies themselves towards indirect and
domination and violence against the figurative discourse" (1996, p. 18) as "there
conquered culture. is no prospect of restoring a pristine, pre-
For the nationalist movement, the main colonial identity", Gibbons believes that
challenge is to find a self-definition for "instead of being based on narrow ideals of
national identity. What is Irishness? What racial purity and exclusivism, identity is
are the characteristics of a real Irish? open-ended and heterogeneous" (1996, p.
Stephan Dedalus is engaged with these 179). In his idea Irishness is not a
questions. He is at the first place bewildered premodern but a modern concept and Irish
by realizing the fact that he is a nationalist culture experienced modernity sooner than
or not, and then he is in the dilemma of it would. Disintegration and fragmentation
choosing to be a real Irish, or to be an artist. were a part of Irish history.
To be an Irish has its own definitions and Ireland is not the only exception but
elements which are in some cases subjective this is "the common inheritance of cultures
and self-representative. Both in the racialist subjected to the depredations of
imperial discourse and the nationalist self- colonialism" (Gibbons, 1996, p. 6). The
definition one, Irishness is "other" and radicality of Joyce's works as Lloyd states,
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comes from its insistence "on a deliberate As Stephan's conversation with the
stylization of dependence and Dean of Studies indicates, Joyce thought
inauthenticity, a stylization of the hybrid that Ireland is a colonized territory of the
status of the colonized subject as of the British Empire and the Irish are a colonized
colonized culture, their internal adulteration nation. The truth is that Irish were involved
and the strictly parodic [and hybrid] modes in imperial activities of the empire. They
that they produce in every sphere" (1993, p. participated in civilizing and missionary
110). It is unavoidable that Anglicized projects that were part of the activities of the
voices and English cultural desire are seen British in Europe.
in Irish culture. The young poet Stephan Dedalus in
In Ulysses, there is a chapter which is Ulysses of James Joyce bears a resemblance
entitled "Wandering Rocks". In it, Father to his creator, Joyce, in 1904. "Stephan's
Conmee's 'ivory bookmark' (Joyce, 1986, p. ambitions and attitudes are presented, and
190) starts a kind of connection between since irony predominates, we see more
Jesuit missionary work and British attitude than ambition" (Kain, 1993, p. 82).
imperialism, and Conmee thinks of "the Ulysses is a representation of human nature
soul of black and brown and yellow men in an Irish form. Joyce never had to invent
and of the propagation of the faith" (Joyce, situations or tales as he could find them all
1986, p. 143-5). In fact Joyce's references to in reality. Dublin was a source of inspiration
ivory explain the relations of world and to Joyce. The people, the situations, the
different local influences of colonialism and incidents, the places, and everything related
nationalism. to Dublin and the Irish were like material of
Joyce believes that British Empire construction to Joyce. Despite a lifelong
conquers different countries for economic exile Joyce often said that his imagination
benefits and not for religious devotion. never left Dublin.
Countries like the Belgian Congo: "Raping In the political stage of Ireland there
the women and girls and flogging the were many sacrifices for liberty and Home
natives on the belly to squeeze all the red Rule. Political pressure led to extreme
rubber they can out of them" (Joyce, 1986, violence and was a big threat to the very
p. 1546-7). generation. Independence was finally won
The context of Joyce's writings proves for a part of Ireland but at a sorry cost. Irish
that he was hostile to colonialism in any nationalism was supported by many
form. Decolonization is what Joyce streams, from politicians to poets. As Kain
supports via nationalism. His interest in remarks, "Often bravery became mere
socialism is ambivalent in his letter to bravado, for the fatal fascination of
Stanislaus in 1906, "If the Irish question rebellion easily induced a romantic urge to
exists, it exists for the Irish proletarian die as a martyr rather than live as a slave in
chiefly" (Joyce, 1906, p. 237). In Joyce's an insufferable environment" (1993, p. 107-
works, colonialism and nationalism are 108). During these years James Joyce was
relative realities, which are subject of involved in writing controversial series of
debate and opposition, expressed through articles which he wrote for the Trieste
creativity, fantasy, language proficiency, newspaper on the subject of Irish politics.
and complexity. Due to betrayals of many Irish activists
such as Parnell's, (a symbol of the ideal
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Ireland for Joyce) in the House of in summer of 1914. He was in search of

Commons and other historical incidents, the perfection within reaching his aims. He
Irish came to the conclusion that their described Dublin so precisely that the city
national problem was not just domination can be reconstructed according to his
from outside, but "the sense of betrayal was descriptions. The truth is that Joyce's life,
a traumatic experience for the Irish people beliefs, notions, and artistic creations come
at large" (Kain, 1993, p. 116). The from deep layers of a nation. Ireland with its
reflection of it is seen in Joyce's Stephan complex history has brought up an exiling
Dedalus who abjured all allegiances to artist who left Dublin, but lived in there for
Pope, king, or country. At last, December a lifelong time.
1921 was the time of the Anglo-Irish There is a conflict in the relationship
Treaty, when Joyce's Ulysses was a between Ireland and the Orient. This
phenomenon which was supposed to make perplexing relation is examined by James
a dramatic reentry of Irish literature to the Joyce in his novel Ulysses. In a lecture in
mainstream of European literature. Universita Popolare in Trieste, Joyce talks
Joyce was gravely influenced by all the of the Irish as a language which "is oriental
historical incidents in history of Ireland. in origin, and has been identified by many
Kain quotes that Yeats' works are "not philologists with the ancient language of the
drama but the ritual of a lost faith". He had Phoenicians, the originators in trade and
the same idea for Joyce as he discusses: navigation" (Joyce, 1964, p. 156). With this
Independently, Joyce was pursuing the notion Joyce supports those who believe
same dual aim: unity of vision aimed that Irish language, culture, and civilization
progressively subtle modes of are rooted in the Orient. This notion also
presentation. His subject remained the implies that Ireland is independent from
ethos of Dublin, but successive treatment England and even superior to it. Joyce's
showed more profound insights, more desires and speculations about his native
complex associations. The philosophic country are comprehended but his
perspective grew to cosmic (and comic) association reminds us the kind of cultural
heights. His autobiographical misappropriation that Edward Said explains
manuscript Stephan Hero became in Orientalism.
intensifies and universalized in the Considering the fact that Joyce was so
rewriting. The heroes life was no longer knowledgeable, it seems improbable that he
a mere succession of episodes, but a believed in the suspicious theory of Scytho-
sequence of pivotal experiences: Celtism which is introduced by Joep
awareness of self, of family, of words, of Leersen (1996, p. 94). The theory is that the
sexual stimulation, of religious fear, of Irish were descended from great oriental
artistic awakening (Kain, 1993, p. 179). civilizations. While supporting this vague
As a consequence of the historical and theory, he raises some questions in our
social events, people of a society would minds about his true attitudes toward
undergo different changes. Joyce, as an nationalism and imperialism. His position
individual, is a part of this current. He is regarding these two matters has always
obliged to accept exile. In 1904, he leaves been accompanied with doubt. In Ulysses
Dublin, an overbearing exile. After ten Joyce explains the fact that why the East, as
years of working hard and wrangling with imagined in the mind of the Irish, is so
publishers, Dubliners was ready to appear interesting for the Irish middle class. By the
Page | 22
exotic fantasies of the imagined East, the comments on the participation of

Irish are distanced from understanding the Shakespeare in the ideology of Renaissance
fact that they are being oppressed by the imperialism: "His pageants, the histories,
English and the Catholic Church. So this sail full bellied on a tide of Mafeking
fact works as a distraction which makes the enthusiasm" (Joyce, 1986, p. 754-5).
Irish far from understanding the truth. Mafeking was a small town in South Africa.
One might think that Joyce's comments It was plagued by the Boers during the Boer
on the Orient come from his admiration of War. When it was liberated, celebrations
Eastern culture but Said thinks differently. were significantly excessive in comparison
Said shows the European habit of forming with military importance of the whole
"its strength and identity by setting itself off event. After this event, 'Mafeking' became a
against the Orient as a sort of surrogate and term for showing the enthusiasm of the
even underground self " (1978, p. 3). British Empire and its expansionist policy
Therefore, Joyce's support and interest in (Gifford, 1988, p. 235).
the Oriental history might show his and Another political and colonial
some of his countrymen's appreciation of observation of Stephan is his contemplation
the Eastern culture, but Said believes that of Matthew Arnold whose influential
Europeans mostly use this trick to serve Culture and Anarchy proposed many
their own interests and subjugate the East. imperialist tendencies. In the book Arnold
As Said puts it, these compliments to considers culture as a means of educating,
the Oriental culture by European nations are and as a result controlling the anarchy
good examples of how they try to reach which threatens the society, especially the
their purposes and agendas. This is a good working classes. Arnold was, in fact, a
evidence of a "Western style for committed liberal humanist who published
dominating, restructuring, and having a series of lectures whose purpose was to
authority over the Orient" (1978, p. 3). As promote the idea that with absorption of
a result, he accuses every European no Ireland into the British Empire, both would
matter who he/she might be as "a racist, an have mutual benefits.
imperialist, and almost totally ethnocentric" Later on Stephan predicts the students,
(1978, p. 204). and their offensive hazing religious
According to Joyce the concepts of practices, at an institution like Oxford, as if
Enlightenment and the nationalist structure he was a Native American presenting white
of the Irish have their roots in colonialism. European invaders. He calls them
These were considered as the political and 'palefaces' (Joyce, 1986, p. 166). This is the
social aspirations of Ireland, but they were term which he applies to a group of tourists
actually in debt to colonialism. Along these, too. (Joyce, 1986, p. 341), and then suppose
the catholic educational system was 'a deaf gardener, aproned, masked with
supposed to help the Irish to achieve Matthew Arnold's face' (Joyce, 1986, p.
knowledge and richness. Joyce observes the 173-4). Stephan undoubtedly wants to be
issue of English literary tradition as a means the savage, anarchic 'native' and reduces the
of colonization. In "Scylla and Charybdis", status of Arnold to a gardener who is at the
for instance, in the middle of the discussion service of the colonizer and is seemingly
about Shakespeare , who is considered as a deaf to the voice of the colonized.
great figure of the tradition, Stephan
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According to Howes, Joyce rejected happens as history, is inevitable and it is

many assumptions of cultural nationalism because of history that a country colonizes
which were derived from assumptions, another and some people become
procedures, and claims of colonialism nationalists due to this and no other reasons.
(1990, p. 264). Actually, Joyce rejected Obviously Joyce criticizes such views.
most of the Revival's projects. Joyce wants the readers to pay attention
In Ulysses, Haines has two sides, on the to how people might take after their
one hand he is a capital revivalist ancestors in many aspects even political
ethnographer and on the other hand a ones. As an example, Haines' father is
British imperialist. This struggle continues introduced as an imperialist adventurer (an
through Ulysses as some people follow an unofficial representation of imperial
implied colonization which manifests itself English ancestors) who "made his tin by
through different ways and some people selling jalap to Zulus or some bloody
resist it due to an unconscious resistance or swindle or other" (Joyce, 1986, p. 156-7).
nationalism. Vincent Cheng has a The violence which is sometimes hidden in
convincing reading of a scene in Ulysses. colonialism is invoked in Haines dream
He believes that it is a "parody of an which is "shooting a black panther" (Joyce,
ethnographic encounter" (1990, p. 151-62). 1986, p. 61-2). Buck Mulligan is fond of
In the scene Haines speaks Irish to the quoting Matthew Arnold. He has the role of
uncomprehending milk woman. Then, he native informant for Haines and encourages
goes to the national library to do some Stephan to do the same thing (Joyce, 1986,
research and buys Revivalist classic of p. 506). But according to Howes, "for
Douglas Hyde which is Love Song of Joyce, the threat that Haines represents
Connacht, and then appears to be working cannot be neutralized by sheer parody and
on a book which is about Irish folklore mimicry; it must be countered by alternative
(Joyce, 1986, p. 365). Haines apparently collective visions of the Irish (Howes, 1990,
rejects the role of England in colonizing p. 265).
Ireland. A very twisting sentence is uttered Joyce criticizes the Revival
by him: "We feel in England that we have occasionally, but what he does and what he
treated you rather unfairly. It seems history writes has so much in common with the
is to blame" (Joyce, 1986, p. 648-9). writers and activists of this movement.
It is concluded from this sentence that According to Seamus Deane, Joyce "is
the colonization of Ireland which had himself a dominant figure in that
provoked a powerful sense of nationalism movement" (1990, p. 34). His political and
among many is considered to come from nationalistic activities are obvious in for
historical incidents and not England and instance, his stance on the Playboy riots,
English rulers. It is all the same with the promotion of the works of political and
issue of religion and its consequences as nationalist writers like Yeats and Synge in
Deasy claims that "All human history Trieste, cooperation on Italian translations
moves towards one great goal, the of Riders to the Sea and The Countess
manifestation of God" (Joyce, 1986, p. 380- Cathleen (Potts, 2010, p. 57). The extracts
1). This way of looking at things seems to from his works, especially Ulysses, and his
be dangerous and the result is that many own social activities support what many
would react to it and become extreme critics believe on his political and
nationalists. According to this view what nationalistic attitudes.
Page | 24
Stephan's quest for his Irish individual such currents lives within them at the same
identity is a symbol of the entire nation's time.
quest for individuality. What happens to an Observing Ulysses in general, it can be
individual like Stephan is what happens to a suggested that Irish collectivity is able to
nation. Sense of nationalism which may be comfort the imperialist narratives of
invoked in an individual is the result of this characters such as Haines and Deasy. This
very quest for individuality, Howes believe is at odds with the evasion of nationalism
that, "Joyce leaves open the possibility that which is implied. Howes believes that,
such a transformation is just faking" (1990, "Above all , however, Ulysses offers, not a
p. 265). portrait of 'a' community, or even portraits
Stephan gives a nationalistic portrait of of several communities, but different ways
himself both in Ulysses and in A Portrait. of conceptualizing community" (Howes,
For instance, in chapter five of A Portrait, 1990, p. 267). The 'community' mentioned
Stephan's mind is the home of the is not only those who live in Ireland but also
intellectual constructions of the Revival. those who emigrated or live in other places
Joyce's Stephan rejects the movement at the of the world with the same situation.
same time but he is in debt to many of its Joyce's attention to Irish culture
values and disciplines. Stephan wants to fly emerges from this point that he sees Irish
by the 'nets' of "nationality, language, culture changing as a reaction when it is
religion" (Joyce, 1986, p. 171), while at the comforted by other cultures. This is defined
same time he rejects the current forms of as hybridity in post-colonial studies. Joyce
cultural nationalism. Howes comes to an chose the popular culture of his day, as he
opposition here when he states, "But he was interested in it and wrote lines on them
continues to think of the 'nation' in precisely in his books. There is no doubt that the
the terms those forms would offer him" cultural mixing and hybridity of Irish
(Howes, 1990, p. 265). He believes that society resulted in nationalism which is
Irish nation is defined by cultural considered as a popular culture of Joyce's
nationalism and concepts of Irishness, not a time and as a social phenomenon it rooted
"Conglomeration of all the people who deep in the mind and works of many Irish
lived in Ireland or who considered literary figures like Joyce.
themselves Irish" (Howes, 1990, p. 265). Joyce's politic and nationalism are seen
Irishness lives within the nation but it is both on his individuality and his oeuvre.
different in its degree among diverse From the examples mentioned, it is shown
regions, populations, and cultural artifacts. how Ulysses records the complexities of
Stephan is captivated by this idea of nationalism among the Irish colonialism
distinguishing Irish 'race' and the natural and nationalism which are investigated in
essence of his people. The truth is that Joyce in the analyses of the individuals, the
Stephan's mind is too much occupied with general arguments and affinities, and even
the cultural nationalism he declares to in the form of his works. Such discussions
reject. He (Joyce or his hero, Stephan) is on his works bring us deep into the
naturally supersaturated by different individual's tendencies in the Irish society
movements and issues such as cultural of that age, as a microcosm, and to the
nationalism but the tendency of resistance institutions, communities, political conflicts
toward many values or accepted concepts of and historical forces.
Page | 25
It is believed by Breuilly (1993) in dominance of nationalism in Ireland of

Colonialism and the State that all Joyce's time. However, Joyce represents its
nationalists strive for controlling the state ironies and contradictions as well. Nolan
power (1993, p. 1-2). But the universal believes that what this episode dramatizes
beliefs of modern liberal state claim a in itself and for everyone else is the "most
different anti-colonial nationalism. In fact important possibilities with which the
Joyce does not claim nationalism in Ulysses whole text engages; and freedom through
which intends to make Irish superior to the commercial enterprise/ the bourgeois
colonizing nation. What he criticizes in project, and freedom through collectivist
Ulysses is the inferiority that the Irish feel nationalism" (2000, p. 92). The fact is that
to the English. The resistance which Joyce for a movement which is based on
seeks is a struggle against forces that try to nationalism, it is important to fight against
dominate a society. As Lloyd states, the the dominant power to gain individual and
prospect of a progressive nationalism national identity.
depends on our "recognition of the excess Lloyd argues that Ulysses circulates
of the people over the nation and in the around the anxiety of nationalism existed in
understanding that that is, beyond itself, the Irish society. This circulation is not only
very logic of nationalism as a political thematic but also stylistic (1993, p. 106). He
phenomenon" (1993, p. 276). Lloyd also also states that the episode "Cyclops"
concludes that, "the critique of nationalism reveals the condition of the colonized
is inseparable from the critique of post- Ireland at almost every level and layer of it.
colonial domination" (Lloyd, 1993, p. 115). The discussion of the novel does not just
Lloyd's essay on "Adulteration and the argue the formation of national identity but
Nation" (p. 88-124) is mainly concerned in its radicality roots in its persistence "on a
with the "Cyclops" chapter of Ulysses. In deliberate stylization of dependence and
this essay many issues regarding the inauthenticity, a stylization of the hybrid
relation between nationalism and status of the colonized subject as of the
postcolonialism are analyzed. The way that colonized culture, their internal adulteration
Lloyd reads "Cyclops" is different from the and the strictly parodic modes that they
way that Joyce liberally rejects Irish produce in every sphere" (1993, p. 110).
nationalism. Therefore, resistant "to the It is interesting that in the episode
ideology of the Irish national bourgeoisie "Circe", Joyce wants to show the desire for
which assumed control of the state in 1922 Englishness which exists in many Irish,
and still resistant to it today" is observed even those who call themselves nationalists.
from a different scope here (as cited in Andrew Gibson (1994) talks of the
Attridge and Howes, 2000, p. 80). Hence, exposure of this cultural desire as "the
nationalism as a reaction to colonialism and anglicized or imported nature of Irish
political dominance is a tool to resist the popular culture" (Gibson, 1994, p. 197). It
state not a reaction for it. seems that the Irish are experiencing a
In "Cyclops" of Ulysses both hegemony, a 'doubleness', or an inner
protagonists have extended modernity, and division due to the culture imported. This is
this modernity can be interpreted equal to at odds with the high spirit of nationalism
nationalism. The political choices and that the Irish claim. This doubleness is
issues presented in this episode, and probably a point that makes Joyce against
throughout the whole novel prove the the popular nationalism of the time. The
Page | 26
purity that Joyce was seeking, neither in our attention to what extend modern
nationalism nor in any cultural, social, and communication and interpretation are in
historical context is found. As Joyce debt to Joyce's works.
himself wrote, "Our civilization is a vast The settings of Joyce's novels are so
fabric, it is useless to look for a thread that clear and detailed that if Dublin was
may have remained pure and virgin without demolished after the Second World War, it
having undergone the influence of a was possible to rebuild it according to
neighboring thread" (1964, p. 165-66). Joyce's descriptions. The way that he
5. Conclusion visualizes the city is not just considered as
Reading Joyce is a complex job. There his artistic aptitude. But his insistence on his
are different layers hidden in his oeuvre nationalism and spiritual sense of belonging
which demand a high knowledge of history, to the place that he was born in and
society, culture, language, etc. to be realized belonged to, despite his self-exposed exile.
to some extent. The way that Joyce looks at There are people of different social
various phenomena around him is hard to be backgrounds and different religious and
grasped and any critic of Joyce has to nationalistic foundations in his works,
scrutinize every word of him to come to a precisely like a real society. The portrayal
conclusion on his ideas regarding different of such aspects makes it easier for Joyce's
issues. Joyce is hard to read and far more audience to feel the spirit of those ages of
intricate to understand. He creates each and Dublin and in case of this research, the
every one of his characters according to real colonial and nationalistic spirits of the age.
people of not just the Irish people but from If it was possible to rebuild Dublin from
diverse nations, from Asia to Europe. Every what Joyce writes, so it is rather an easy job
character is representative of a type of to imagine, understand, and know the Irish
individual which we may encounter in our society of Joyce's time, with all its aspects
real lives so this fact makes his characters according to Joyce's writings, including the
more tangible. facts and details of politics and nationalism
Joyce's influences and effects on of Joyce's time.
literature of his age and everyday writings, Joyce is not only the author of his
novels, and artistic works are so vast that we novels but he is a part of his stories. His
encounter them regularly in our everyday intrusion is formed and characterized under
lives. Joycean techniques of parody and the name of his hero, Stephan Dedalus.
pastiche, fragmentations of his words and Stephan is a portrait of Joyce's past, present,
images, self-referentiality, multiple points and future as an artist and as an Irish.
of view, open-ended narrative, and Joyce's personality and characteristic are
mythologies are not the only great features reflected in his protagonist. Both are similar
of his works done after him. He manifested in their behavior and the way they look at
cultural and political situations in his works. issues of religion, politics, society, and
Joyce's works are complicated as they have nationalism. Their childhood and
their roots in the social, economic, and adolescence and the progression of their
political changes that occurred before and artistic potential are formed in the same
during his lifetime. As Attridge claims, "far way. Stephan experiences things in life just
more people read Joyce than are aware of as Joyce does, and he is under the influence
it" (2004, p. 1), by which he means to draw of the issues which Joyce is. They both react
Page | 27
to colonization of the Irish, nation's sense of puts nationalism near other social
nationalism and different trends and phenomena such as modernity, political
movements in the same way. Stephan to conflicts and social movements, to make the
Joyce is like Zarathustra to Nietzsche in relationship among them clearer. He
Thus Spake Zarathustra. observes many interrelated discourses in the
Different studies and criticisms of Irish society of his time to define and
Joyce are various like the colors of a present comprehensible elements which
rainbow. They are united but at the same move in parallel or create more
time they move parallel and show different contradictions and paradoxes.
colors. Their differences exist to the end. Post-colonial studies can examine
Meanwhile, it is concluded from every colonialism and nationalism in Joyce on a
study of Joyce that his works cannot be number of diverse points, from analyses of
understood without accepting the fact that individual words and sentences to
Joyce and his works are political indeed and arguments of wide-ranging propensity and
they have a direct relation to the Irish overall form. It enables us to see them as
struggle for independence and their much discussed and fiercely debated issues,
nationalistic movements. Joyce's writing is and as a set of overarching and often
like a mirror which reflects the history of implicit suppositions about the world of
Ireland and shows us the Irish political Joyce's time. It integrates their immense
memory. Joyce's engagement with the worldwide correlations and their minute
social, political, cultural, historical, and local separations. In Joyce, colonialism and
economical changes of Ireland is parallel nationalism constantly take us inward, to
with his shifts in his writings; features like the fantasies, divisions, and traumas of
uncertainties, different narrative individual psyche; just as continually they
experiments and contradictions which are take us outward, to the institutions,
equal to the fluctuate Irish society of the competing communities, political conflicts,
time. The result drawn out is that, Joyce and historical obligations of our interrelated
seeks Irish national independence and world. If we move toward Joyce's writings
political freedom. while keeping these points in mind, it
The opinions and criticisms of the becomes clear that some of the apparent
many distinguished researchers and paradoxes that construct them- his
theoreticians which are brought in this nationalism versus his internationalism, his
research support the fact that they are not fascination with Ireland versus his
totally harmonious in discussing Joyce's habitation in Europe, his rejection of the
political views and approaches and his Irish Literary Revival versus his
attitudes toward nationalism and involvement in it- are not really paradoxes
postcolonialism, but they all regard Joyce as at all. They merely indicate the everyday
a political writer whose writings are complexities that surround the topic of this
mingled with Irish nationalism and research. They are in fact the controversial
postcolonialism. issues of history that influence the whole
Joyce presents the dominance of society, including artists and writers.
nationalism in every episode of his books, The result drawn out of the discussed
especially in A Portrait of the Artist as a matters bring us to this conclusion that
Young Man. Meanwhile, he investigates the Joyce was a part of nationalistic movements
existing contradictions and ironies. Joyce such as the Irish Revival. Although he had
Page | 28
major conflicts with some people who Gibson, Andrew. (1994). 'Strangers in My
claimed to be nationalists, they actually House, Bad Manners to Them!': England in
were not. He supported the core and the 'Circe', in Reading Joyce's "Circe", ed. Andrew
basic of nationalism, and social and Gibson, European Joyce Studies (Amsterdam:
political resistance against the colonial Rodopi).
Gifford, Don. (1988). Ulysses Annotated.
power. In fact, Joyce rejects some trends Barkeley: University of California Press.
and movements, or at least parts of them Jones, Ellen Carol. (1998). Joyce: Feminism /
which are diverged from the core ambitions Post / Colonialism. European Joyce Studies 8.
and aims of resistance and nationalism in Amsterdam: Rodopi.
order to achieve different political purposes Joyce, James. (1907). Ireland, Island of Saints
or even institutional or personal benefits. and Sages: an Essay by James Joyce, Originally
He is against movements which were as “Irlanda, Isola dei Santi e dei Savi”, lecture
practically moving against the Irish liberty of 27 April 1907; rep. in The Critical Writings
and indirectly helped the Empire to follow of James Joyce, ed. Ellsworth Mason & Richard
up with its colonizing agendas. Therefore, Ellmann (NY: Viking Press 1964, 1966 [35d
Joyce is a 'semicolonial' writer who has his printing]), 154-174
Joyce, James. (1964). The Critical Writings of
own mode of nationalism. James Joyce. New York: Viking Press.
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Attridge, Derek and Marjorie Howes. (2000). Penguin Books.
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Attridge, Derek. (2004). The Cambridge Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press.
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Bhabha, Homi K. (1994). The Location of Durham: Duke University Press.
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Brady, Ciaran. (1994). Interpreting Irish literature of the Modern Nations. Cambridge,
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Cheng, Vincent J. (1995). Joyce, Race, and Lloyd, David. (1993). Adulteration and the
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MacCabe (Brighton: Harvester Press), 168-83. and British Orientalisms. Ithaca: Cornell
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Potts, Willard. (2010). Joyce and the Two Shenandoah, Lexington, Va., III, 3, 9-20.
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Nationalism in James - Joyce's - Ulysses

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Nationalism in James Joyce's Ulysses

1. Introduction through the colonized culture, politics and

state formation previously in refusing "beneficiary" of it as well. There are some

Ireland for Joyce) in the House of in summer of 1914. He was in search of

exotic fantasies of the imagined East, the comments on the participation of

According to Howes, Joyce rejected happens as history, is inevitable and it is

It is believed by Breuilly (1993) in dominance of nationalism in Ireland of

International Journal of English Language & Translation Studies ISSN:2308-5460

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