James Joyce's Concept of the Underthought: A Reflection on Some Similarities with the Work of Wittgenstein (Ludwig Wittgenstein) (Critical Essay‪)‬

What I would like to do this afternoon is to outline some of Joyce's thoughts on the subject of language, and to draw some parallels between his views, those of classical psycho-analytic theory, and the work of Wittgenstein. My primary aim will be to explore images or metaphors of language use, and not to engage with the never-ending complexities of Joycean studies, in which, some twenty years ago I occasionally indulged. Yes, I was one of these sad people who traced the movements of his characters on the street maps of Dublin, and subscribed to the delightfully titled Joyce Newslitter, and sometimes wrote replies on my tripewriter. But, in coming back to the subject after many years I find that my old anorak no longer fits. I still regard Joyce as the greatest creative novelist, but after having logged on to various websites to see the current state of Joycean play, I logged off fairly swiftly with Molly Bloom's favourite expression in mind: Oh, Rocks! Although Joyce wrote much, he is primarily known for two novels, Ulysses and Finnegans Wake. Ulysses has been described as the ultimate novel of 'the common man', and Finnegans Wake as the ultimate use of the English language, although it contains references to dozens of languages. Ulysses takes place during the waking hours. Finnegans Wake explores the world of sleep and dreams. But, light or dark, both books are suffused with the theme of pattern and repetition. Human concerns repeat, and the events described in both novels lock into their different themes a with marvellous complexity. Nothing happens in isolation, and the multiple metaphors of language bind their various usage together. But one has to start somewhere--even if Joyce began Finnegans Wake with the word with which it ends. With Ulysses the beginning was more historical.