REPORT ON JAMES JOYCE'S ULYSSES

EPISODE 9--SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS (184-218)

The ninth episode of Ulysses opens up in the National Library of Ireland. It is 2:00pm, and we find Stephen sitting amongst a group of scholarly Dubliners in the office of the director. The episode is dialectical, with the main action centralized in the flow of words between dialogue and Stephen's inner monologue. The shifts between spoken word and inner thought create a battleground for Stephen. Stephen, like the episode, develops an inner conflict of two forces. One is representative of Stephen's need to prove his artistic genius by "debunking critical theorists by out-theorizing them"(Blamires 76). The other force is representative of his need to be accepted by these "critical theorists," his fellow Dubliners.

As the episode opens Stephen tries to "debunk" his companions by telling them about his theory of Shakespeare's use of the creative and mystical forces in his plays. However, while Stephen wants to conquer his companions through an intellectual showing, he tries hard to keep an outwardly polite demeanor. The conflict between Stephen's thoughts and actions develops the conflict between Stephen's wants and needs. This, in turn, causes his dual personality. Stephen launches into his theory with the definition of a ghost. Stephen's ghost---"One who has faded into impalpability through death, through absence, through change of manners" (188)--is, unknowingly to Eglinton, actually a parallel to his own self . It is realized here that Stephen is muddling his task to prove his own genius. Due to this, the theme of Stephen's inevitable failure emerges. The heightening battle within Stephen is therefore established, and the flow between inner and outer voices strengthens.

The episode carries on as the discussion turns to debate and then into that of butting heads. Once Buck Mulligan enters the room a more apparent competition develops. Mulligan and Stephen become rivals "under the ambiguous cover of a dubious friendship" (Fargnoli 199). This competition causes Stephen's desperation to grow as he enters an outward battlefield with Mulligan. Eventually, Stephen allows himself into a child-like fight with Eglinton over Shakespeare's second best bed. As Stephen allows for his needs to surface his instability becomes painfully obvious to the group of men. They stare at him, unable to comment, yet Stephen "faced the silence" (203). The silence is the separation between Stephen and these men, but only Stephen sees the enormity of this gap.

Finally the debate dies out with cries from Eglinton who makes a mockery of Stephen's theory asking if he believes it himself . Stephen's realization that he is losing the battle is expressed through his simple answer--No. Stephen's thoughts explain this answer with a prayer: "I believe 0 Lord, help my unbelief " (214). If Stephen had been able to believe and then not believe his theory, then he would have been able to discuss instead of insist.

Defeated, Mulligan and Stephen depart from the group together. However, only Stephen realizes the extent of what just happened when Mulligan remarks "Couldn't you do the Yeats touch?" (216). He feels a presence, Bloom, coming from behind that will separate Mulligan from him and desires to part company.

The seventh book of The Odyssey describes Odysseus's encounter with Scylla and Charybdis. Odysseus must pilot between these two perils in order to continue his journey. Circe has advised him to stay near Scylla, the lesser of the two evils. Knowledgeable to the fate of his crew, Odysseus must choose between losing six men to the monster Scylla or sacrificing his entire crew and ship to Charybdis the whirlpool.

Stephen must also choose between two dangers yet those which he faces "are not physical but oratorical" (Blamires 76). These two dangers are based around the inner and outer voices of Stephen and his companions. Stephen is representative of both Scylla and Odysseus. Scylla is Stephen's inner voice, the part of Stephen that wishes to out-logic the scholarly group of Dubliners that he faces. Stephen is the six-headed monster that craves to bend down and feast on these men. At the same time, Stephen is also Odysseus trying to steer between the voices. He is torn between Scylla, his inner voice that wishes to destroy, and Charybdis, the whirlpool of the collective's voice that tries to pull him in. Stephen must choose a path between the two, and like Odysseus, choose the path less damaging.

The main theme of this episode is dueling forces. The episode "emphasizes the need to make choices and the inevitability of having to skirt danger in order to succeed" (Fargnoli 198). At many points during this episode Stephen finds himself having to steer his way through dangers. The major conflict is the one inside of Stephen. He feels a strong need to gain acceptance from those he wishes to leave. In trying to develop his artistic genius Stephen looks down upon his fellow Dubliners. Yet Stephen cannot find complete glory in this for he inwardly needs the approval of these men. Stephen made his escape to Paris only to end up in Ireland again. He finds himself unable to navigate through the voices of his fellow men. His need to define his own self is very strong and keeps him from being able to fall into the whirlpool of ideas that the others have created and thus he is ostracized. Unfortunately, Stephen cannot handle this rejection because of his deep need to be accepted by his fellow men. In the end Stephen is ostracized by his companions, still having not been able to prove his superior intellect to them either. Stephen loses the battle.

Fargnoli, Nicholas. James Joyce A to Z. New York: Oxford University Press, 1955.

Joyce, James. Ulysses. New York: Vintage International, 1990.