Shem, Shaun and the Dualism of James Joyce's 'Finnegans Wake'

Abstract

There is very little that can be said about 'Finnegans Wake' that is unambiguously and unqualifiedly true. For almost every seemingly reasonable, uncontroversial proclamation about the nature of the text or its contents, demonstrable though it may be, there is a contrary statement that can be made that is equally reasonable and demonstrable. To suggest the book is a meticulously planned and carefully executed work of art is fair enough, and is supported both by what is known of Joyce's technique in writing the book and by the numerous intricate connections that have emerged from readings of the work. To suggest that 'Finnegans Wake' is a monstrous, bewildering, chaotic slab of nonsense that gives itself over to meaningless chance and incoherence also seems like a fair call. It is written in a language that accepts this contradiction; a language that is at once obscure and revelatory.