Ulysses and the Irish god
Book Description
Frederick K. Lang offers readers a profound exploration of how one of literature's most celebrated authors wrestled with the sacred traditions of his homeland. This scholarly yet accessible study reveals how James Joyce transformed his complex relationship with Irish Catholicism into the artistic foundation of his masterwork, Ulysses.
Lang demonstrates how Joyce's rejection of traditional faith paradoxically became the source of his creative power. Rather than simply abandoning religious imagery, Joyce reimagined sacred concepts like the omnipotent Father, the incarnated Son, and the consecrated host to serve his artistic vision. The author traces this spiritual transformation from Joyce's earliest short stories through his mature literary theory, showing how theological concepts became tools for artistic revelation.
The book illuminates Joyce's concept of "epiphany" by examining its roots in both Aquinas and New Testament theology. Lang reveals how Joyce positioned himself as a god-like creator, reincarnating through his characters Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom while weaving together elements of the Mass, black mass, and Good Friday liturgy throughout his narrative.
Written without academic jargon, this study offers fresh insights into how spiritual questioning can fuel creative expression. Lang shows how Joyce's protagonist Molly Bloom emerges as a transformed sacred figure, suggesting that artistic creation itself becomes a form of spiritual practice. For readers interested in the intersection of faith, doubt, and creative transformation, this work provides compelling evidence of how spiritual struggle can generate profound artistic vision.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~9 hours)
📄 Length: 317 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore In literature
- ✓ Explore Ireland, in literature
- ✓ Explore Catholic Church
- ✓ Learn to access lasting joy
- ✓ Explore Ireland in literature
- ✓ Explore Christianity in literature
- ✓ Explore God in literature
- ✓ Explore Religion
