NATHAN HALPER
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joyce did nothing to refine it.
In
fact, he was not able to resist a
mischievous addition . At a moment when Bloom is struggling with his
flatulence, he thinks, "Wish I could. Wait." After this, joyce inserted
the phrase, "That wonderworker if I had."
Four hundred pages later, this allusion is explained.
In
the
"Ithaca" chapter, the prospectus for Wonderworker is quoted. " It helps
and soothes . .. in case of trouble in breaking wind, assists nature in
the most formidable way, insuring instant relief."
If
a reader recalls the
original allusion, he will understand what Bloom had in mind. Even
then, he will not know what the writer was saying for his own
amusement.
If
he (Joyce) had used "wonder worker's" advice, Bloom
would have had more "instant relief."
joyce did not quote the pamphlet verbatim; he improved its
phrases. We may be sure that "assists nature in the most formidable
way" was not found in the prospectus. It's a dubious recommendation
for something which is meant to soothe.
In
contrast, it is relevant to
Pound. He is not only the English word "formidable." Because he said
he has a "gallic preference," joyce has chosen to describe him with a
French locution. Pound himself-and the way he assists nature-are
certainly
formidable.
There is also his reputed sexual prowess–
"Ladies find Wonderworker especially useful."
In
1926, joyce had another occasion to use "Wonderworker" in
reference to Pound. While retaining his admiration for
Ulysses,
Pound
made less flattering remarks about the chapters he had seen of
joyce's
Work in Progress.
In
December, in a letter to the touchy
writer, complaining that he could not see "what which has to do
with where," he said that "Nothing short of divine vision or a new
cure for the clapp" could "possibly be worth all the circumambient
peripherization. "
joyce was working on the introductory chapter. The first pages
include the battle of Waterloo sequence.
In
it, he is dealing with many
areas of struggle. On one level, the battlefield is Art. joyce himself
(as he always does) serves as his own best model of the embattled Artist.
He is the Emperor. His opponent, Wellington, carries the traditional
standards. He represents the critics who are hostile to the Artist's
innovations.
In
accounts of many of his battles, Wellington is described as
watching through a telescope.
In
the Waterloo sequence, there are
allusions to this instrument. It is not only an authentic detail, it is a
trope for Wellington himself. Its meaning-"watcher from afar"–
applies equally to the man who employs it.
In
his role as critic, he
