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Reading, Smashing, and Playing Ulysses
Fox, Cheryl. "Absolutely: Redefining the Word Known to All Men." James Joyce Quarterly 29, no. 4 (Summer 1992): 799–804.
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Yes and No
Link to citation page: https://www.worldcat.org/title/absolutely-redefining-the-word-known-to-all-men/oclc/5557159404&referer=brief_results
The article begins by quoting Stephen in "Scylla and Charybdis" (U 9) as he muses "Do you know what you are talking about. Love, yes. Word known to all men" (U 9.429-30). Fox argues that "yes", not "love", is "Ulysses' word known to all men" (799). She first seeks to discredit "love" as the word by pointing out the multitude of contradictory or insufficient uses and definitions of the word presented by the novel. For example, Fox cites Bloom's description of love in "Cyclops" as "the opposite of hatred" (U 12.1485), arguing that this definition is not quite love, nor does it appear that Bloom himself means love. Instead, Bloom is using the word love as a placeholder for affirmation. Fox believes that the word Bloom is really searching for is "yes."
The article then turns to Stephen and his discomfort with selfish and selfless love, as seen through his relationship with his mother. Fox argues that Stephen is looking for affirmation from his mother. This affirmation may come through "love," but it is the affirmation itself that he is really searching for. Furthermore, in "Proteus" (U 3) and "Circe" (U 15) when Stephen considers the "word" he directs his questions to women. In Stephen's connection of "the word" with women, Fox sees a link to Joyce's feminine "yes."
Fox contends that Joyce connects "yes" with fertility and transformation, thus leaving women in control of the power to change, sought by both Bloom and Stephen. She argues that only Molly makes concrete plans for the future and says "yes" to other possibilities, transforming her life. In this way Molly—as the "proprietor of 'yes' holds the key to individualization for Stephen and Bloom" (803).
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