Why You Should Read Ulysses Gabler Edition James Joyce MOBI EPUB: The Benefits and Challenges of Reading Joyce's Epic Novel
Ulysses Gabler Edition James Joyce MOBI EPUB: A Comprehensive Guide
If you are looking for a challenging but rewarding reading experience, you may want to consider Ulysses, one of the most influential and innovative novels of the 20th century. Written by Irish author James Joyce, Ulysses is a complex and rich work that explores various aspects of human life and culture through the lens of a single day in Dublin.
Ulysses Gabler Edition James Joyce MOBI EPUB
However, reading Ulysses is not an easy task. The novel is notorious for its length, difficulty, diversity and controversy. You may wonder which edition to choose, how to understand its references and allusions, or how to appreciate its style and humor. You may also want to find a convenient and accessible way to read Ulysses on your digital devices.
That's why we have created this comprehensive guide for you. In this guide, we will introduce you to the Gabler edition of Ulysses, which is widely regarded as the most accurate and authoritative edition available. We will also explain how you can read Ulysses in MOBI or EPUB format, which are popular and compatible formats for e-readers and tablets. We will also provide you with a summary of the plot and structure of Ulysses, a discussion of its themes and symbols, a history of its reception and influence, and a list of benefits and challenges of reading Ulysses. Finally, we will answer some frequently asked questions about Ulysses Gabler Edition James Joyce MOBI EPUB.
By the end of this guide, you will have a better understanding of Ulysses and its significance, and you will be ready to embark on your own journey with this masterpiece of modern literature.
Introduction
Before we dive into the details of Ulysses Gabler Edition James Joyce MOBI EPUB, let's first answer some basic questions: What is Ulysses? What is the Gabler edition? And what are MOBI and EPUB formats?
What is Ulysses?
Ulysses is a novel by James Joyce, published in 1922. It is considered one of the greatest and most influential works of modern literature, and a landmark of modernism, a literary movement that experimented with new forms and techniques to reflect the complexity and diversity of the modern world.
The novel follows the lives and thoughts of three main characters: Leopold Bloom, a Jewish advertising agent; Stephen Dedalus, a young aspiring writer; and Molly Bloom, Leopold's wife and an opera singer. The novel is set on June 16, 1904, a date that has become known as Bloomsday, and celebrated by fans of Joyce around the world. The novel covers a span of 24 hours, during which the characters wander around Dublin, encounter various people and situations, and reflect on their past, present and future.
The novel is divided into 18 episodes, each corresponding to a different hour of the day, and each inspired by a different episode of Homer's Odyssey, an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, a hero who tries to return home after the Trojan War. The novel also uses different styles and techniques in each episode, ranging from realistic dialogue to stream-of-consciousness monologue, from parody to poetry, from newspaper headlines to musical notes. The novel is full of references and allusions to various fields of knowledge, such as history, mythology, literature, philosophy, religion, science, art and politics.
What is the Gabler edition?
The Gabler edition is a critical and synoptic edition of Ulysses, edited by German scholar Hans Walter Gabler, with the assistance of Wolfhard Steppe and Claus Melchior. It was first published in 1984 by Garland Publishing in New York, and later by Bodley Head in London and Vintage Books in New York.
The Gabler edition is based on a meticulous examination of all the available manuscripts, typescripts, proofs and editions of Ulysses, as well as Joyce's own notes and corrections. It aims to reconstruct Joyce's final intentions for the novel, and to correct more than 5,000 errors that were introduced in previous editions due to misprints, censorship or editorial interventions. The Gabler edition also provides a synoptic text that shows the genetic development of the novel from its earliest drafts to its final version.
The Gabler edition is widely regarded as the most accurate and authoritative edition of Ulysses available today. It has been adopted by many scholars, critics and readers as the standard text for studying and enjoying Ulysses. However, it has also been criticized by some for its methodology, presentation and interpretation of certain passages. Some prefer to use other editions of Ulysses, such as the original 1922 edition published by Shakespeare and Company in Paris, or the 1961 edition edited by Stuart Gilbert and published by Random House in New York.
What are MOBI and EPUB formats?
MOBI and EPUB are two popular formats for digital books or e-books. They are designed to be compatible with various e-readers and tablets, such as Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iPad and Android devices. They allow readers to adjust the font size, style and layout of the text according to their preferences. They also support features such as bookmarks, annotations, hyperlinks and images.
MOBI is a format developed by Mobipocket, a French company that was acquired by Amazon in 2005. It is mainly used for Kindle devices and applications. It supports DRM (digital rights management), which means that some MOBI files may be protected from copying or sharing by publishers or authors.
EPUB is a format developed by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF), a global trade organization that promotes digital publishing standards. It is an open and free format that can be used by anyone. It supports HTML5 (hypertext markup language) and CSS3 (cascading style sheets), which means that it can display more advanced formatting and interactivity than MOBI.
The Plot and Structure of Ulysses
Now that we have introduced Ulysses Gabler Edition James Joyce MOBI EPUB, let's take a closer look at the plot and structure of the novel. As we mentioned before, the novel is divided into 18 episodes, each corresponding to a different hour of the day and a different episode of Homer's Odyssey. Here is a brief summary of each episode and its parallel with the Odyssey.
Episode
Time
Title
Summary
Odyssey Parallel
1
8:00 am
Telemachus
Stephen has breakfast with Buck Mulligan and Haines in the Martello tower. He decides to leave and find another place to sleep.
Telemachus is the son of Odysseus who is oppressed by the suitors of his mother Penelope. He sets out to find his father.
2
10:00 am
Nestor
Stephen teaches at a school and collects his wages from Mr. Deasy. He agrees to help Deasy publish a letter about cattle disease.
Nestor is an old king who fought with Odysseus in the Trojan War. He tells Telemachus stories about his father.
3
11:00 am
Proteus
Stephen walks on the beach and thinks about various topics, such as perception, history, courage, and his dead mother.
Proteus is a sea god who can change his shape. He is captured by Menelaus, who forces him to reveal Odysseus's fate.
4
8:00 am
Calypso
Bloom wakes up, buys a pork kidney for breakfast, and serves tea and toast to Molly. He reads a letter from Martha Clifford, his secret pen pal.
Calypso is a nymph who keeps Odysseus on her island for seven years. She offers him immortality if he stays with her.
The Themes and Symbols of Ulysses
Besides its plot and structure, Ulysses is also remarkable for its themes and symbols. The novel explores various aspects of human life and culture through the lens of a single day in Dublin. It also uses various objects, characters, figures and colors to represent abstract ideas or concepts. Here are some of the major themes and symbols of Ulysses.
The Quest for Paternity
One of the main themes of Ulysses is the quest for paternity. Both Stephen and Bloom are searching for a father-son relationship that can give them a sense of identity and belonging. Stephen is looking for a symbolic father who can understand and support him as an artist and a thinker. He feels alienated from his biological father, Simon Dedalus, who is a drunkard and a failure. He also rejects his spiritual father, the Catholic Church, which he considers oppressive and hypocritical. He is interested in various models of fatherhood, such as the Holy Trinity, Shakespeare, and Homer.
Bloom is looking for a son who can carry on his legacy and heritage. He lost his only son, Rudy, when he was eleven days old. He also suspects that his wife, Molly, is infertile after her affair with Boylan. He feels lonely and isolated from his Jewish community and his Irish society. He is drawn to Stephen as a potential son figure, who shares his interest in literature, science, and music.
The quest for paternity reaches its climax in Episode 17, when Bloom invites Stephen to his home after rescuing him from a fight at the brothel. They have a long conversation about various topics, such as history, politics, art, and religion. They seem to bond as father and son, but they also have some misunderstandings and disagreements. They part ways without exchanging contact information or making plans to meet again. The quest for paternity remains unresolved at the end of the novel.
Alienation and the Quest for Belonging
Another major theme of Ulysses is alienation and the quest for belonging. Both Stephen and Bloom feel like outsiders in their own city. They are marginalized by their religion, ethnicity, class, profession, or personality. They are constantly confronted by hostility, prejudice, ignorance, or indifference from others. They are also haunted by their past traumas and losses.
Stephen feels alienated from his family, his friends, his country, and his church. He has no home to return to after leaving the Martello tower. He has no money to support himself as an artist. He has no respect or recognition for his talents or ideas. He has no faith or hope in anything beyond this world.
Bloom feels alienated from his wife, his colleagues, his neighbors, and his community. He has no intimacy or trust with Molly after her affair with Boylan. He has no success or satisfaction with his job as an advertisement canvasser. He has no friends or companions to share his thoughts or feelings with. He has no roots or connections with his Jewish ancestry or his Irish nationality.
The Reception and Influence of Ulysses
Another aspect of Ulysses that deserves attention is its reception and influence. The novel has a fascinating history of publication and censorship, as well as a remarkable impact on other writers and works. Here are some of the highlights of Ulysses's reception and influence.
The Publication and Censorship of Ulysses
Ulysses was first published serially in the American literary magazine The Little Review from 1918 to 1920. However, the publication was halted after the thirteenth episode, "Nausicaa", because it was deemed obscene and blasphemous by the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice. The editors of The Little Review, Margaret Anderson and Jane Heap, were fined and convicted for publishing Ulysses.
In 1921, Joyce found a new publisher, Sylvia Beach, the owner of the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris. She agreed to publish Ulysses in book form, despite the legal risks and financial difficulties. The first edition of Ulysses was printed in Dijon, France, by Maurice Darantiere, and was released on February 2, 1922. It had a print run of 1,000 copies, of which 100 were signed by Joyce. The book was smuggled into the United States and Britain by Joyce's friends and supporters, but it was banned and confiscated by the authorities.
In 1929, a group of American literary figures, led by Bennett Cerf of Random House, decided to challenge the ban on Ulysses in the United States. They arranged for a copy of Ulysses to be imported from France and seized by the customs. They then sued the government for the right to publish Ulysses in America. The case was heard by Judge John M. Woolsey, who ruled in favor of Ulysses on December 6, 1933. He declared that Ulysses was not obscene or pornographic, but a sincere and serious work of art. He also praised Joyce's use of the stream-of-consciousness technique and his portrayal of human psychology.
In 1934, Random House published the first authorized edition of Ulysses in America. It sold more than 100,000 copies in its first year. In Britain, however, Ulysses remained banned until 1936, when it was allowed to be sold under certain conditions. The ban was finally lifted in 1949.
The Critical and Academic Responses to Ulysses
Ulysses received mixed reviews from critics and readers when it first appeared. Some praised it as a masterpiece of modern literature, while others condemned it as a chaotic and incomprehensible mess. Some admired Joyce's innovation and experimentation, while others attacked his obscenity and blasphemy.
Some of the early supporters of Ulysses included Ezra Pound , T.S. Eliot , Virginia Woolf , Ernest Hemingway , F. Scott Fitzgerald , Samuel Beckett , William Faulkner , and W.B. Yeats . Some of the early detractors included G.K. Chesterton , H.G. Wells , D.H. Lawrence , Wyndham Lewis , George Bernard Shaw , and Vladimir Nabokov .
The Benefits and Challenges of Reading Ulysses
Finally, let's consider the benefits and challenges of reading Ulysses. The novel is undoubtedly a rewarding and enjoyable experience for many readers, but it is also a difficult and demanding one. Here are some of the reasons why reading Ulysses is worth it, and some of the obstacles that readers may encounter.
The Reasons Why Reading Ulysses is Rewarding and Enjoyable
Reading Ulysses can offer many benefits and pleasures to readers who are willing to engage with it. Here are some of them:
Reading Ulysses can expand your mind and imagination. The novel exposes you to a wide range of topics, perspectives, styles, and techniques that challenge your assumptions and expectations. It invites you to explore different ways of thinking, feeling, and expressing yourself.
Reading Ulysses can enrich your knowledge and culture. The novel references and alludes to various fields of knowledge, such as history, mythology, literature, philosophy, religion, science, art, and politics. It also portrays various aspects of culture, such as language, music, food, fashion, sports, and entertainment.
Reading Ulysses can deepen your empathy and compassion. The novel allows you to enter the minds and hearts of its characters, who are complex and realistic human beings. It shows you their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows, their strengths and weaknesses.
Reading Ulysses can enhance your appreciation and enjoyment of life. The novel celebrates the beauty and wonder of everyday life in all its details and diversity. It also reveals the humor and irony that can be found in even the most mundane or tragic situations.
The Difficulties and Obstacles that Readers May Face When Reading Ulysses
Reading Ulysses can also pose many difficulties and obstacles to readers who are not familiar or comfortable with it. Here are some of them:
Reading Ulysses can be confusing and frustrating. The novel does not follow a conventional plot or structure. It switches between different points of view, time frames, locations, and narrative modes. It also uses various devices such as stream-of-consciousness, interior monologue, parody, puns, neologisms, foreign words, slang, dialects, codes, symbols, and musical notation.
Reading Ulysses can be overwhelming and exhausting. The novel is very long and dense. It contains a lot of information and references that may not be familiar or accessible to most readers. It also requires a lot of attention and concentration to follow its twists and turns.
Reading Ulysses can be boring and tedious. The novel does not have a lot of action or suspense. It focuses on the ordinary and trivial aspects of life that may not seem very interesting or important. It also repeats or digresses on certain themes or topics that may not appeal to every reader.
Reading Ulysses can be offensive or shocking. The novel does not shy away from depicting the crude and vulgar aspects of life that may be considered obscene or blasphemous by some readers. It also expresses controversial or provocative opinions that may challenge or offend some readers.
The Tips and Resources that Can Help Readers Overcome These Challenges
The Tips and Resources that Can Help Readers Overcome These Challenges
Despite these challenges, reading Ulysses is not impossible or hopeless. There are many tips and resources that can help readers overcome these challenges and enjoy the novel. Here are some of them:
Choose a good edition of Ulysses. As we mentioned before, the Gabler edition is widely regarded as the most accurate and authoritative edition of Ulysses. However, some readers may prefer other editions, such as the original 1922 edition or the 1961 edition. You may also want to look for an edition that has annotations, footnotes, maps, or illustrations that can help you understand the novel better.
Read Ulysses with a companion. Reading Ulysses can be more fun and rewarding if you do it with someone else. You can join a reading group, a book club, or an online forum where you can discuss your thoughts and questions with other readers. You can also find a friend or a mentor who has read Ulysses before and can guide you through it.
Use a guidebook or a commentary. If you want to delve deeper into the meaning and significance of Ulysses, you may want to consult a guidebook or a commentary that can explain its references and allusions, its styles and techniques, its themes and symbols, and its historical and cultural context. There are many guidebooks and commentaries available for Ulysses, such as Stuart Gilbert's James Joyce's Ulysses (1930), Harry Blamires's The New Bloomsday Book (1966), Don Gifford's Ulysses Annotated (1974), Declan Kiberd's Ulysses and Us (2009), and many more.
Listen to an audiobook or a podcast. If you find reading Ulysses too daunting or tedious, you may want to listen to an audiobook or a podcast that can bring the novel to life with voice and sound. There are several audiobooks and podcasts of Ulysses available online, such as Jim Norton's unabridged narration of Ulysses (2004), Frank Delaney's Re:Joyce podcast (2010-2014), which analyzes Ulysses line by line, and RTร Radio 1's dramatization of Ulysses (2012), which features Irish actors and celebrities.
Watch a film or a play adaptation. If you want to see how Ulysses can be translated into other media and genres, you may want to watch a film or a play adaptation of the novel. There are several film and play adaptations of Ulysses available online or on DVD, such as Joseph Strick's film Ulysses (1967), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Sean Walsh's film Bloom (2003),
