Frank Delaney's Re: Joyce

Mulligan, descending the stairs, trivializes his own insults - and musters considerable literary resources to do so.

Stephen absorbs Mulligan's insults and, standing upon the tower by the sea, once again recalls his Shakespearean precedent.

Mulligan boldly defends himself against Stephen's charge, and dissects death  - and Stephen himself - in the process.

We touch on one of the most important themes of Ulysses, and perhaps in all of writing.

A few thoughts on the Celtic spirit, and on what, exactly, can be seen from Martello tower.

We dig through some more insults, and ponder the names of characters who don't, in fact, appear in the novel.

A single word produces lessons on the Greek language, politics, and cultural criticism.

Stepping away from the narrative for a moment, Frank gives us a look at Joyce's education, his family, and his conflicted relationship with the Catholic church.

Stephen and Mulligan fence - or, alternately, joust.

The looking glass evokes both Shakespeare's Caliban and Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray

As the insults mount, Stephen faces his own reflection.

 We find meaning - and a Shakespearean precedent - in Stephen's black clothing.

Getting past Mulligan's accusations of mummery, we enter Stephen's thoughts and encounter his dead mother.

Frank describes the real life figure behind the character Haines.

In this next installment we hear from Stephen Dedalus.​

Jame's Joyce's blasphemy still has power today.  Listen to Frank Delaney investigate the next section of Ulysses.

Episode Three in which we learn more about Stephen Dedalus including the origins of his name.

Frank Delaney continues his reading of James Joyce's Ulysses.  This podcast covers paragraphs two and three of the first chapter and introduces the character Stephen Dedalus.