Cast 69. Page 576, line 1179
How did he elucidate the mystery of an invisible attractive person, his wife Marion (Molly) Bloom, denoted by a visible splendid sign, a lamp?
With indirect and direct verbal allusions or affirmations: with subdued affection and admiration: with description: with impediment: with suggestion.
This is from Episode 17. The entire episode is written from beginning to end in the form of questions and answers.
Late at night, Stephen has been brought back to the Bloom household. After spending some time in the kitchen, the two men step out into the back yard. From a second-floor rear window of the house, they can see the light of the oil lamp in the bedroom where Bloom’s wife Molly is sleeping.
Invisible — visible
indirect — direct
form a pair.
There is alliteration in allusions, affirmations, affection, and admiration.
There is also an echoing rhyme in affection, admiration, description, and suggestion.
The etymology of elucidate is the Latin “to make bright,” so it forms a verbal link with splendid and lamp.
Fire and light in the darkness are a characteristic motif of this episode.
Bloom seems to have said something to Stephen about Molly, but we do not know what he said. Even from the surrounding context, I cannot quite make out the meaning of this question and answer.
After this, the two men fall silent and look at one another.
This may, perhaps, be one of the unexpectedly important mysteries of the novel.
René Magritte, Good Fortune
"Rene Magritte - Good Fortune" by irinaraquel is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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