Saturday, September 19, 2015

"her chastener ever"

(552.35-554.10)  And so we've reached the end of this long (81-page) chapter, which began with Shaun, newly departed from Isabel and her 28 classmates, slumped on a hill, and ends with the voice of HCE proclaiming his triumphs through Shaun to the four old men, who became four young chaps along the way.

The final paragraph of HCE's address begins with blessings falling down on those assembled in St. Patrick's cathedral like wintry percipitation ("wholehail, snaeffell, dreardrizzle or sleetshowers of blessing").  After his architectural deeds, HCE set about educating ALP, spreading before her the seven wonders of the world, both in their classical form (for example, "chopes pyramidous and mousselimes and beaconphires," which, McHugh notes, stand for Cheops' Pyramid, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, and the Lighthouse at Alexandria) and in the form of statues of great figures from Irish and English history (for example, "the Pardonell of Maynooth" for Parnell and "Nielsen, rare admirable" for Admiral Nelson).

HCE planted "a quickset vineyard" for his "own hot lisbing lass," which is another form of Phoenix Park, "a Queen's garden of her phoenix."  He also brewed beer for his pub.  The final benefit he bestowed upon ALP and Dublin involved transportation.  He laid down paved roads, upon which a variety of horses trod, including "claudesdales withe arabinstreeds," "madridden mustangs," and "buckarestive bronchos."  Rickshaws, taxis, and sedans also transported the people along these roads, and smaller horses seemed to dance along the roads for ALP's pleasure.  HCE concludes that "she lalaughed in her diddydid domino to the switcheries of the whip."  "Down with them!" ALP would shout.  "Kick!  Playup!"

The third chapter of Book III of the Wake concludes with a line in which HCE's voice echoes ALP's laughter and acknowledges the four young chaps/old men who have been interrogating Shaun through its course:  "Mattahah!  Marahah!  Luahah!  Joahanahanahana!"  These final laughs conceal a deeper emotion, though, for as McHugh notes, "hana" is Czech for "shame."  

3 comments:

  1. I have no ideas if you still get notifications on this but your work has been incredible.

    Your writing is very coherent and you are eminently well read. I think I might be about 200 of your page views this is my first reading!!

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