IDEOLOGICAL AND AESTHETIC FUNCTIONS OF SYMBOLISM IN THE WORKS OF JAMES JOYCE'S ULYSSES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37547/Keywords:
James Joyce, Ulysses, Symbolism, Modernism, Ideological Functions, Aesthetic Functions, Classical Mythology, Nationalism, Identity, Existentialism, Stream of Consciousness, Literary Criticism, Religious Imagery, Postcolonial Literature.Abstract
This article explores the ideological and aesthetic functions of symbolism in James Joyce’s Ulysses. Through an examination of critical literature and close textual analysis, the paper investigates how Joyce employs various symbols-such as references to classical mythology, religious imagery, and contemporary Dublin life-to convey both personal and societal struggles. The article argues that Joyce’s symbols not only serve to deepen the ideological content of the novel by engaging with themes such as identity, nationalism, and existential dilemmas but also contribute to the novel’s innovative narrative form. Through the blending of everyday reality with mythological motifs, Joyce creates a text that challenges traditional literary structures while offering a rich, multi-layered reading experience. Ultimately, the study positions Ulysses as a modernist masterpiece, whose use of symbolism remains a key tool in its exploration of the human condition and its critique of early 20th-century Irish society.
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References
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