Finnegans Wake II.3 is the longest chapter in the book: it’s nearly 1/6 of the length of the whole work. It’s also the densest chapter. The study chapter (II.2) may be the hardest to read, but I think this chapter is as dense as it gets. Words seem more packed with meaning than usual. The narrative, such as it is, continually confuses the present with the past. More so than any other chapter, it is a microcosm of the whole book.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Forgiveness
Mental Math
The math problem comes in Finnegans Wake II.2 occurs right after Shem/Dolph shows his brother how to draw the two interlocking circles that I discussed in my last post. This post explores the math problem itself.
Continue readingHit the Books
Finnegans Wake II.2 is the study chapter. After coming in from playing, the children are apparently doing their homework: it’s Joyce’s chance to parody school books, as he writes the chapter sort of like a textbook with marginal comments and footnotes.
This post focuses on the end of the chapter, where the brothers work on a math problem, and then Shaun punches Shem, only for the latter to forgive him.
Continue readingJustice and Mercy
“Justice” is cruel authoritarianism when it’s not tempered by Mercy.
Mercy is wishy-washy weakness when it’s not balanced by Justice.
Thus the brothers, Shaun and Shem. At the end of Chapter I.7, Justius (Shaun) monologues, followed by Mercias (Shem).
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