Wake

Forms:

wake, waken, waking, wakening, awake, awaken

Related terms:

core/corps/corpse, custom, end, occupy, rise, sight, up

Explication

In Ulysses, “wake” is most commonly used as an adjective when describing ones current state or presence after having been asleep, whether it be forceful, mistakenly, or naturally. In addition to this, for some of the characters, there are instances where either positive or negative connotations can be applied, in that being awake is an escape from a nightmare, “History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake” (U 2.377) or being asleep is an escape from reality, “No more pain. Wake no more. Nobody owns.” (U 6.365).

Joyce also uses this term in terms the “following” or “aftermath” of a person or thing by another, “Both smiled over the crossblind at the file of capering newsboys in Mr Bloom’s wake, the last zigzagging white on the breeze a mocking kite, a tail of white bowknots” (U 7.444-445). This “following” can either be unwanted or unavoidable, and serves as a reminder that there is more than meets the eye.

Moreover, Joyce refers to “wake” in terms of the religious ceremony that precedes a funeral. Throughout the story, there are several instances where we are given constant references to Dignam’s death and funeral. It is almost as though there is always a reminder (like a ghost) about his death. Not only that, we get many scenes where characters are watching someone or something. A wake refers to the watch over a person’s body, which many do outside of a religious aspect.

From these three instances, “wake” serves a very interesting role as a connection between life, death, and the afterlife.

Definitions and Examples

I. n., The state of wakefulness esp. during normal hours of sleep. Obs. exc. in sleep and (or) wake, wake and dream.

II. n., The watching (esp. by night) of relatives and friends beside the body of a dead person from death to burial, or during a part of that time; the drinking, feasting, and other observances incidental to this. Now chiefly Anglo-Irish or with reference to Irish custom. Also applied to similar funeral customs in other times or among non-Christian peoples.

• “Relics of old decency. Mourning too. Terrible comedown, poor wretch! Kicked about like snuff at a wake” (U 6.234-35)
  • This particular quote is interesting becuase Joyce uses a play on words with “awake” and “a wake.”

III. Used by Hogg for: A serenade, nocturnal song.

IV. With unfavourable implication: To sit up late for pleasure or revelry; to turn night into day.

V. To be active, alert, stirring, vigilant. Const. as above; also, to be diligent, exert oneself to(do something). to wake over, to occupy one’s mind with. Obs.”

VI. Phrases. to fetch (get, get into, have) the wake of (a pursued vessel): to get so close to her as to be able to see, and steer by, her wake. to stay a weather of a wake:

• “The ball bobbed unheeded on the wake of swells, floated under by the bridgepiers” (U 8.58-9)
• “She trudges, schlepps, trains, drags, trascines her load. A tide westering, moondrawn, in her wake.” (U 3.392-93)

VII. The disturbance caused by a body swimming, or moved, in water

VIII. Naut. or quasi-nautical. in the wake of (a vessel); in her (its) wake, etc.: immediately behind, and (properly) in the actual track made by, a vessel; immediately backward and along the track made. Also used of any person or persons aboard, as in his, our, etc., wake; behind his, our, etc., vessel.

Related Topics:

Alive, sleep, death, after life, celebration, dream, consciousness, aware, follow