Alchemy and Finnegans Wake

328 Pages·1980·0.96 MB·English

by  Barbara Dibernard

title: Alchemy and Finnegans Wake
author: DiBernard, Barbara.
publisher: State University of New York Press
isbn10 | asin: 0873954297
print isbn13: 9780873954297
ebook isbn13: 9780585054643
language: English
Joyce, James,--1882-1941.--Finnegans
wake, Joyce, James,--1882-1941--
subject
Knowledge--Occultism, Alchemy in
literature.
publication date: 1980
lcc: PR6019.O9F58eb
ddc: 823/.9/12
Joyce, James,--1882-1941.--Finnegans
subject: wake, Joyce, James,--1882-1941--
Knowledge--Occultism, Alchemy in
literature.
Page iii
Alchemy and
Finnegans Wake
Barbara DiBernard
State University of New York Press
ALBANY
Page iv
Published by State University of New York Press, Albany
© 1980 State University of New York
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner
whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
For information, address State University of New York
Press, State University Plaza, Albany, N.Y., 12246
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
DiBernard, Barbara, 1948-
Alchemy and Finnegans wake.
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Joyce, James, 18821941. Finnegans wake.
2. Joyce, James, 18821941KnowledgeOccult
sciences. 3. Alchemy in literature. I. Title.
PR6019.09F58 823´.9´12 79-22809
ISBN 0-87395-388-6
Page v
TO MY PARENTS
Page vii
Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Abbreviations xiii
Introduction 1
The Excremental Vision: Spiritual and Physical Alchemy 12
"As Above, So Below," and Death and Rebirth 31
Number Symbolism 60
Colors and Forgery 85
Ingredients and Equipment 108
Shem the "Alshemist" 126
Notes 139
Bibliography 152
Index 159
Illustrations
The Death of the Alchemical Solar King and Lunar 40
Queen
The Enthronement of the King and Queen 55
The King and Queen in the Bath 125

Page ix
Acknowledgments
I am indebted to many people for their help with this book. A talk by
Robert Boyle, S.J., generated some of the basic ideas; the advice and
support of Mabel Worthington gave me the courage to continue; and
the unfailing energy and counsel of Zack Bowen helped me bring it to
its conclusion.
The English Department of SUNY Binghamton sent me on a semester
in London at a crucial time in the development of this study; the
chance to work at the British Library and to examine the Finnegans
Wake manuscripts was invaluable. Miriam Leranbaum, whom I miss
greatly, introduced me to the British Museum Reading Room; her
interest in my work and her sound advice aided me immeasurably.
Thanks to LeeAnn, Peggy, Robin, and Roma for helping with the
typing; to Norma, Suzanne, Mary, and my other friends for reading,
listening, and understanding; to my parents for supporting me in every
possible way, especially by believing in me.
Portions of this book have previously appeared as articles: "Alchemy
in Finnegans Wake" in the James Joyce Quarterly, 14 (1977);
"Alchemical Number Symbolism in Finnegans Wake" in the James
Joyce Quarterly, 16 (1979). I wish to
Page x
thank the editor of JJQ for permission to use this material here.
Material from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce,
copyright 1916 by B. W. Heubsch, copyright renewed 1944 by Nora
Joyce, is reprinted by permission of Viking Penguin Inc., New York;
Jonathan Cape, London; and the Society of Authors as the literary
representative of the Estate of James Joyce. Material from Ulysses by
James Joyce, copyright 1914, 1918 by Margaret Caroline Anderson,
copyright renewed 1942, 1946 by Nora Joyce, copyright renewed
1961 by George Joyce and Lucia Joyce, is reprinted by permission of
Random House, Inc., New York; The Bodley Head, London; and the
Society of Authors as the literary representative of the Estate of James
Joyce. Material from Finnegans Wake by James Joyce, copyright 1939
by James Joyce, copyright renewed 1967 by George Joyce and Lucia
Joyce, is reprinted by permission of Viking Penguin Inc., New York,
and the Society of Authors as the literary representative of the Estate
of James Joyce. Material from the Collected Letters of James Joyce,
Vol. I, edited by Stuart Gilbert, copyright 1957 by The Viking Press,
Inc., is reprinted by permission of Viking Penguin Inc., New York,
and Faber & Faber Ltd., London. Material from the Finnegans Wake
manuscripts is reprinted by permission of the British Library, London.
Material from The Collected Works of C. G. Jung, trans. R. F. C. Hull,
Bollingen Series XX, Vol. 5: Symbols of Transformation, copyright ©
1956 by Princeton University Press, excerpts reprinted by permission
of Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J., and Routledge &
Kegan Paul Ltd., London. Material from The Collected Works of C. G.
Jung, trans. R. F. C. Hull, Bollingen Series XX, Vol. 12: Psychology
and Alchemy, copyright 1953 © 1968 by Princeton University Press,
excerpts reprinted by permission of Princeton University Press,
Princeton, N.J., and Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd., London.