James Joyce, Ulysses, and the Construction of Jewish Identity
Book Description
This scholarly exploration examines how one of literature's most celebrated authors engaged with cultural representations of Jewish identity throughout his creative journey. Neil R. Davison presents compelling evidence that Joyce's artistic vision was profoundly shaped by his ongoing encounter with the complex discourse surrounding Jewish people in early twentieth-century Europe.
Drawing from newly uncovered biographical sources, Davison traces how Jewish themes influenced Joyce's imagination from his earliest years through his mature works. The study reveals how Joyce absorbed and transformed the religious folklore, political propaganda, and pseudo-scientific theories of his era, weaving these elements into his literary masterpiece.
Through careful analysis of Ulysses, readers discover how Joyce incorporated diverse cultural materials, from Christian traditions to the political upheaval of the Dreyfus Affair, from Irish nationalist movements to contemporary theories about Jewish identity. This examination illuminates the intricate ways that cultural prejudices and social narratives become embedded within artistic creation.
For those interested in understanding how literature reflects and shapes our perceptions of identity, this work offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between artistic imagination and social discourse. Davison's research demonstrates how even the most innovative literary works emerge from and respond to the cultural conversations of their time, revealing the deeper currents that flow beneath the surface of great art.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
📄 Length: 305 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Novelists, Irish
- ✓ Explore Religion
- ✓ Explore LITERARY CRITICISM
- ✓ Explore European
- ✓ Explore Characters
- ✓ Explore Biographies
- ✓ Explore Histoire
- ✓ Explore Irish Novelists
