Stopped reading at ". .. humuluation." (593.15)
We have started the last book, book IV.
Introducing book IV, Joseph Campbell writes the following in A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake:
"The cycle of a life has run its course. The hero in his soul's anguish dreamed of a future the would be gloriously mastered by his John o' Dreams son, but beheld the vision disintegrate and dissolve. In the end all reduced itself to a dowdy, unpromising present. The man and woman had reached the end of their fruitfulness. Love was no longer what it once had promised."
Book IV starts with chanting three times, Sandhyas! Sandhyas! Sandhyas! (Sandhya is a Sanskrit word meaning twilight. According to McHugh, this can also be read as Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus. McHugh also gives the meaning as 'peace' by reading Sandhyas as Samdhi. This interpretation can not be correct because the Sanskrit word for 'peace' is 'Shanti'.) Thus the first chapter reads as if people are being called upon to witness something that we hopefully will understand as we read more of the book. What is clear is that history will continue in the cyclic manner, the old giving way to new. Past deeds are being cleared up, cleaned up. The fog (smog) is lifting (lofting). One is reminded to wash off the dirt with Pears' soap (have yous vieswed Piers' aube?)
Interestingly the first paragraph of Book IV echoes parts of Ulysses:
Similar to the beginning of this book, episode 14, Oxen of the Sun, in Ulysses starts with repeating thrice each of the following sentences: Deshil Holles Eamus. Send us bright one, light one, Horhorn, quickening and wombfruit. Hoopsa boyaboy hoopsa!
The sentence here in Book IV, Guld modning, have yous viewed Piers' aube?, clearly echoes the sentence, "Good morning, have you used Pears' soap?" from Lotus Eaters, episode 5.
We have started the last book, book IV.
Introducing book IV, Joseph Campbell writes the following in A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake:
"The cycle of a life has run its course. The hero in his soul's anguish dreamed of a future the would be gloriously mastered by his John o' Dreams son, but beheld the vision disintegrate and dissolve. In the end all reduced itself to a dowdy, unpromising present. The man and woman had reached the end of their fruitfulness. Love was no longer what it once had promised."
Book IV starts with chanting three times, Sandhyas! Sandhyas! Sandhyas! (Sandhya is a Sanskrit word meaning twilight. According to McHugh, this can also be read as Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus. McHugh also gives the meaning as 'peace' by reading Sandhyas as Samdhi. This interpretation can not be correct because the Sanskrit word for 'peace' is 'Shanti'.) Thus the first chapter reads as if people are being called upon to witness something that we hopefully will understand as we read more of the book. What is clear is that history will continue in the cyclic manner, the old giving way to new. Past deeds are being cleared up, cleaned up. The fog (smog) is lifting (lofting). One is reminded to wash off the dirt with Pears' soap (have yous vieswed Piers' aube?)
Interestingly the first paragraph of Book IV echoes parts of Ulysses:
Similar to the beginning of this book, episode 14, Oxen of the Sun, in Ulysses starts with repeating thrice each of the following sentences: Deshil Holles Eamus. Send us bright one, light one, Horhorn, quickening and wombfruit. Hoopsa boyaboy hoopsa!
The sentence here in Book IV, Guld modning, have yous viewed Piers' aube?, clearly echoes the sentence, "Good morning, have you used Pears' soap?" from Lotus Eaters, episode 5.
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