"That English Paper": Cannibals, Slaves, and Bits of Fun in Ulysses

The study of the "Circe" episode of Ulysses has been underserved with regard to one of its most significant sources, the sadomasochistic magazine Bits of Fun, which has never been fully examined. This source is followed more closely by Joyce in the novel's Bella/ Bello scene than has...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of modern literature 2023-03, Vol.46 (3), p.74-96
Main Author: Power, Tristan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
British & Irish literature
Cannibalism
Irish literature
Joyce, James
Joyce, James (1882-1941)
Slavery
Spewack, Bella Cohen
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The study of the "Circe" episode of Ulysses has been underserved with regard to one of its most significant sources, the sadomasochistic magazine Bits of Fun, which has never been fully examined. This source is followed more closely by Joyce in the novel's Bella/ Bello scene than has been realized, as well as in the "Ithaca" episode and Finnegans Wake. The exact issues that Joyce used have not yet been correctly identified, and the "Circe" notesheets have consequently been misdated. Joyce drew on Bits of Fun not only for his theme of forcedfeminization in this episode, but also for more extreme details of bondage and torture, including even cannibalism and slavery. Based on this source, the text of Joyce's early draft material in both his "Circe" notesheets and Ulysses notebooks should be emended in several places.
ISSN:1529-1464
0022-281X
1529-1464
DOI:10.2979/jmodelite.46.3.05