Joycean Metaphor
One need read no more than the opening page—the opening paragraph—oh, heck the opening lines to understand that the language of literary device on this novel is going to be something more complex, difficult, abstruse and even, one may daresay, more devoid of immediately apparent meaning than in most novels. Similes are easily recognized thanks to the “like” or “as” component, but metaphor can become complicated even in something like a romance novel or an illustrated children’s book. The level of metaphor which James Joyce pursues should not become a rabbit hole down which one feels they have to crawl. Just try to find something you can appreciate about it and then move on. But first, of course, recognize it as metaphor as in the direct language here which frames its indirect meaning precisely within the boundaries of figurative imagery:
“Sniffer of carrion, premature gravedigger, seeker of the nest of evil in the bosom of a good word, you, who sleep at our vigil and fast for our feast”
Recognize the Simile
Joyce is not an easy writer to read. At least, not by the time he is working on his two novels which some might claim are simply a game rather than a story. Whether or not that is really the case, keep in mind when diving into the seemingly impossibly murky waters of Finnegans Wake that he does, on occasion deal within the rules and convention of literary technique that make those techniques plain enough to spot. Again, keep in mind: only about five people in the world at any given time are actually supposed to understand every single simile in this book and even that is probably an overstatement resulting from wish-fulfillment. It is enough for the average reader to simply recognize that some sort of simile is being engaged here:
“Your fame is spreading like Basilico’s ointment since the Fintan Lalors piped you overborder and there’s whole households beyond the Bothnians and they calling names after you.”
A Simple Case of Imagery
It doesn’t happen often, but every once in a while—almost as though Joyce had gotten tired or even possibly just a little sloppy—a simile is put to use for the purpose of imagery. This rare utilization is noticeable because it is easily understandable. It does not require a scholarly education for explication. But don’t get excited: it is a rarity among rarity in this dense work:
“But the river tripped onher by and by, lapping as though her heart was brook”
Less Simple Metaphor
Also occasionally popping up are examples of simple declarative sentences made more difficult—of course—through abstraction and ambiguity. Most of the material for extricating meaning is there; one need only take a leap of faith regarding the nuances and specificities surrounding the central metaphorical image:
“That was a damn good cup of scald! You could trot a mouse on it.”
Just Words
For the most part one piece of advice is best observed for the non-scholarly attempt at reading Joyce’s final novel. Keep repeating to yourself, they’re just words and that’s all they’re really meant to be. People exist in this world who have dedicated their entire careers to figuring out the meaning of this exercise in language manipulation. If they can’t do it after decades of analysis, why should anyone else feel too disheartened after a try or two? In the end, who’s to say who is more foolish: the person who utterly fails to understand the following or the person who has devoted a lifetime to trying make sense of it?
“Somehows this sounds like the purest kidooleyoon wherein our madernacerution of lour lore is rich.”
