There are not many novels which mention and discuss as many topics and themes as James Joyce’s “Ulysses” does. From the parallelism to Homer’s “Odyssey” to Shakespeare, Christ, Aristotle and Plato, only to mention a few, all these figures find their place in the day of Bloom. Moreover, from the very beginning of the novel, the reader finds himself confronted with numerous topics relating to Christianity in a perhaps unexpected way. Catholic theology and Church history is mocked and accompanied by blasphemous remarks, culminating in Stephen’s profound thoughts on specific early Church heresies.
It is the purpose of this paper to explore the first chapter of “Ulysses” in order to construe the significance of Stephen’s list of heretics and their heterodox beliefs for himself. Before the relevant heresies for Stephen’s own views are discussed, I will first explicate the mockery of Catholicism by pointing out theological nuances and implications behind the main remarks and actions by Mulligan in “Telemachus”.
Subsequently, based on Stephen’s mental list of heretics in this chapter, I will elaborate on the various characters of Church history and their teachings in relation to orthodox Christian belief. As two specific figures, Arius and Sabellius, reappear later in “Ulysses”, their role will be discussed by examining the chapters “Proteus” and “Scaylla and Charybdis”. Drawing from the heretical Christological theories that Arius and Sabellius put forward, Stephen links Christological theology about the divine Father and Son to the human father-son relationship. It will be argued that the ironic depiction of Christian practice and theology as well as the heresies not only function as a symbol of rebellion against the Catholic Church but that in particular the heresies named after Arius and Sabellius serve as connective tissue, which Stephen uses to expand upon his rumination on his relationship with his father and fatherhood in general.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Blasphemy, Heresy and Irony in “Telemachus”
2.1 Stephen’s List of Heretics
3 Rebellion against the Church
4 Arius in “Proteus”
5 Sabellius in “Scylla and Charybdis”
6 Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper explores how James Joyce uses early Christian heresies, specifically those of Arius and Sabellius, to frame Stephen Dedalus’ complex psychological struggle with fatherhood and his own father-son relationship in "Ulysses".
- The intersection of Catholic theology and blasphemy in "Telemachus".
- Stephen Dedalus' internal list of heretics as a reflection of his own identity.
- The Arian heresy as a metaphorical lens for examining artistic creation and deficient paternal relationships.
- The collapse of traditional fatherhood and the Sabellian conflation of self in "Scylla and Charybdis".
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Stephen’s List of Heretics
The blasphemy and heresy does not discontinue as we transition from Mulligan to Stephen’s thoughts. In fact, Stephen is able to portray heterodox positions and heretical statements with much more theological nuance than Mulligan. His stream of thought begins with a reference to the Nicene Creed, the faith pronouncement of the first ecumenical council of the Church in the fourth century which is deemed infallible in Catholic theology, by citing it: “et unam sanctam catholicam et apostolicam ecclesiam” (U 1.651). The infallibility and apostolic authority of the theology established in the council is immediately called into question as Stephen views it as the product of “slow growth and change of rite and dogma” (U 1.652) which parallels “his own rare thoughts, a chemistry of thoughts” (U 1.652-3). He then pictures the Apostles’ Creed, the earliest creed of Christianity, as the “symbol of the apostles” (U 1.653) during the “the mass for pope Marcellus” (U 1.653). Pope Marcellus died within a month of his reign as the head of the Catholic Church in the 16th century and the mass “Missa Papae Marcelli” was written in honor of him (Gifford & Seidman 1988: 25). The recitation of the Apostles’ creed in the mass for the pope is accompanied by a heavenly vision: the “vigilant angel of the church” (U 1.655), Archangel Michael (Gifford & Seidman 1988: 25), fights off heretical figures. Photius, Arius, Valentine, Sabellius and even Mulligan are among these “heresiarchs” (U 1.656).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter contextualizes the prevalence of religious themes and heresies in "Ulysses," setting the stage for the paper's analysis of Stephen Dedalus' internal theological ruminations.
2 Blasphemy, Heresy and Irony in “Telemachus”: This section examines Buck Mulligan’s initial mockery of the Catholic Mass and introduces Stephen’s mental engagement with church history.
2.1 Stephen’s List of Heretics: This chapter analyzes the specific theological figures, such as Photius, Arius, and Sabellius, referenced in Stephen's thoughts.
3 Rebellion against the Church: This chapter interprets the characters' blasphemies and references to "free thought" as representative manifestations of late 19th-century Irish intellectual rebellion.
4 Arius in “Proteus”: This chapter explores how the Arian heresy serves as a metaphor for Stephen's anxieties regarding artistic creation and his own damaged relationship with his father.
5 Sabellius in “Scylla and Charybdis”: This chapter investigates how Stephen’s theory on Hamlet and the Sabellian modalist heresy reflect his existential collapsing of sonship into fatherhood.
6 Conclusion: This final section synthesizes the findings, arguing that Stephen's use of heresy evolves from a desire for a balanced father-son model to the tragic realization of its collapse.
Keywords
James Joyce, Ulysses, Stephen Dedalus, Heresy, Arius, Sabellius, Father-Son Relationship, Catholicism, Theology, Blasphemy, Free Thought, Modalism, Arianism, Artistic Creation, Literary Criticism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this paper fundamentally about?
It is an academic analysis of how the protagonist Stephen Dedalus in James Joyce’s "Ulysses" utilizes early Christian heresies to process his personal identity and his complex relationship with his father.
What are the primary themes of the work?
The core themes include historical and theological heresy, the nature of fatherhood, religious rebellion, the conflict between faith and free thought, and the relationship between an artist and their creative work.
What is the primary objective of this research?
The goal is to move beyond seeing Stephen's references to heresy merely as acts of rebellion, revealing them instead as "connective tissue" that helps him articulate his feelings regarding paternity.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper employs a literary-theological approach, combining close reading of the text with historical context regarding Church councils and heresy, alongside psychological interpretations of fatherhood.
What does the main body cover?
The study navigates from "Telemachus," where heresy acts as mockery, through "Proteus" and "Scylla and Charybdis," where specific heresies are applied to the concepts of artistic creation and the personal father-son dynamic.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include James Joyce, Ulysses, Stephen Dedalus, Heresy, Arianism, Sabellianism, Father-Son Relationship, and Theological Rhetoric.
How does the Arian heresy specifically influence Stephen’s self-perception?
Stephen identifies himself with the Arian Son—created rather than begotten—which underscores his feelings regarding his own "made" nature and his perceived lack of a stable, harmonious bond with his father.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding Stephen’s Sabellian shift?
The author suggests that by the time of "Scylla and Charybdis," Stephen's falling into the Sabellian heresy represents a more tragic state where the father figure effectively disappears into the son, causing the hierarchy of paternity to collapse.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2023, Arius, Sabellius and Stephen Dedalus’ Father-Son Relationship in James Joyce’s "Ulysses", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1547566
