I think it is really interesting (and disgusting) that in Stephen gets thrown into the square ditch, and thus the image of human waste comes into the book immediately. This is an image we have previously been exposed to both in Dangarembga and Tutuola, although there it is much more graphic. Here, we get to use our imaginations to picture the disgusting act of being pushed into the square ditch, and I am trying to figure out which makes us more sympathetic as readers. Personally, I find myself more sympathetic in the instance of Joyce, because my imagination is more focused on the fact that it is disgusting than the details that disgust me.
As far as Stephen's penchant for words and lyricism, that didn't catch my attention until Prof. Shingavi pointed it out in class. I of course noticed the ditties and songs, but only after discussing the way Stephen seems to focus on words and their lyrical quality did it all tie in together. I think that sets Stephen apart from other children, and reminds me of Ake in the fact that Stephen is represented to be an extraordinary child.
I go agree with you concerning the number of allusions. It does become quite a hindrance with all of the footnotes that have been added to provide further clarification for the novel. Despite the fact that Joyce does allude to many things which the majority of us are probably not very familiar with, I do actually kind of appreciate the fact that he throws a lot of these types of things out there. Though not completely intelligible for most, it does kind of make one aware of the great amount of knowledge the majority of us have yet to attain, serving as a means of challenging us to strive to become more knowledgeable and familiar with the great amount of literary works mentioned. Although his allusions do cause me to feel rather ignorant at times throughout the novel, the fact that Joyce is capable of making so many is definitely extremely impressive and has caused me to only respect him and his renowned style of writing all the more.
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