Q1: How does this project link to Ulysses?

​

Our project reconstructs the physical setting of the “Circe” chapter in Ulysses. We chose it since the line between reality and fantasy is often blurred throughout it due to Joyce’s experimentation with hallucinatory writing. As readers, we were often confused by where exactly the events of this episode unfolded and therefore wanted to ground new readers physically.

​

To accomplish this, we did historical research on Dublin’s red-light district during the early 20th century, referred to in Circe as the “nighttown.” Since nighttown no longer exists, we started by studying maps of Dublin from the 1900’s and compiling all mentions of streets and buildings in “Circe” in order to decide on which perimeter to focus on. Based on this work, we recreated the central area of nighttown where most of the action takes place.

 

Q2: What does the underground part mean?

​

Given the episode’s play-like structure which brings to life exterior representations of the most intimate and dark facets of the subconscious of Leopold Bloom and Stephen Dedalus, we thought that a strictly literal model would be an insufficient guide to Joyce’s nighttown. To address this, we added an “underworld” below the surface of our map which highlights the psychological significance of recurring objects within the context of both character's lives.

 

The “underworld” can be seen as a metaphor on multiple levels: the “subconscious” of the characters, the “inferno” where one has to descend in order to escape and return home, and the unearthed “reliquary” of memories and pains.

​

Q3: Why are there four caves?

​

We organized the “underworld” into four caves—two for Bloom and two for Stephen—which were positioned to mirror how Joyce chose to transition from each protagonist’s external to physical reality. Specifically, Bloom’s section begins firmly grounded in reality, with far more references to real locations than any other part, before disintegrating into a sadistic, psychedelic snafu. Therefore, his caves are set one above the other to mimic the sequential transition from his immediate superficial reality to his deepest, darkest secrets. In contrast, Stephen’s caves are set side by side to illustrate the constant back and forth between his interior and physical experiences.

​

Q4: What do the little charms inside the cave represent?

 

We selected specific objects we considered significant in our interpretation of the episode, which illustrate different thematic concerns. After compiling a list of all the mentioned items, we chose to focus on twenty-seven of them. Each object found in the physical model has its counterpart on our website under the tab “Map Keys,” annotated with literary explanations and historical contexts, which guide the first-time readers to understand their significance and to derive a unique “Circe” experience through the visual physical model.

 

Click here to access the entire chapter with highlighted Map Keys.