Cross

Forms: Cross, Across, Crossed, Crosses, Crossing, Crosstree

Related Topics: Religion, Catholicism, Travel, Movement

Explication:

The most common form of “Cross” in Ulysses is “across” which denotes movement from one side to another or a position in relation to another position. Joyce uses this word 64 times throughout Ulysses to express movement or a certain positionality, “A point, live dog, grew into sight running across the sweep of sand,” (U. 3. 294). This is a straightforward usage of the word although it has the ability to retain the Christian imagery of the cross.

Another common form of cross is “crossed” which is the past participle of cross. Crossed is used in multiple ways throughout Ulysses, one of which being the physical act of past movement from one position to another, “He crossed at Nassau street corner,” (U. 8. 551). Crossed can also indicate the act of crossing oneself in a religious manner, “Father Conmee read in secret Pater and Ave and crossed his breast,” (U. 10. 193). This form of cross is unique in that both meanings can be used simultaneously creating a double-entendre. This is important to note as Joyce occasionally employs this word to produce ambiguity in the meaning. In conjunction, cross as the concept of movement and cross as a religious symbol can imply the movement of religion. Leopold Bloom struggles with his Jewish identity in the face of Irish Catholicism which acts in alienating Bloom.

Some other forms of cross used by Joyce include Cross and Crossing. The OED cites Cross as having a few different variations and an ability to occupy multiple parts of speech. Cross is both a verb which means to move from one position to another and a noun which incorporates Christian themes as Jesus was crucified on a wooden cross, “Mr Bloom walked unheeded along his grove by saddened angels, crosses, broken pillars, family vaults, stone hopes praying with upcast eyes, old Ireland’s hearts and hands,” (6, 928-930). This is a relevant definition for Ulysses which draws heavily on Catholicism and religion. Cross can also be used to express anger or an opposition. Stephen crosses his mother’s dying wish by failing to execute religious acts, “You crossed her last wish in death,” (1, 212).

Definition and Examples

Noun

1. A kind of gibbet used by the ancients (and in later times by some non-Christian nations); a stake, generally with a transverse bar, on which they put to a cruel and ignominious death certain criminals, who were nailed or otherwise fastened to it by their extremities.

“Mr Bloom walked unheeded along his grove by saddened angels, crosses, broken pillars, family vaults, stone hopes praying with upcast eyes, old Ireland’s hearts and hands,” (6, 928-930).

 

2. The sign of the cross made with the right hand, as a religious act. Cf. sign of the crossat sign Phrases 1.
3. A representation or delineation of a cross on any surface, varying in elaborateness from two lines crossing each other to an ornamental design painted, embroidered, carved, etc.; used as a sacred mark, symbol, badge, or the like.

“Moving through the air high spars of a threemaster, her sails brailed up on the crosstrees, homing, upstream, silently moving, a silent ship,” (3, 503-505).

 

 

Adjective

1. Lying or situated athwart the main direction; transverse; passing from side to side. Also saidof things to which spatial relations are transferred.

“He turned away and sauntered across the road,” (5, 47).

 

2. Passing or lying athwart each other; crossing, intersecting.

“Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed,” (1, 1-2).

3. Diagonally opposite in position (as in a quadrilateral). rare. Cf. cross-corner n.

“Two crossed keys here,” (7, 142).

 

4. Contrary, opposite, opposed (toeach other, or tosomething specified). (Now rarely predicative.)
5. Of events, circumstances, or fortune: Adverse, opposing, thwarting; contrary to one’s desire or liking; unfavourable, untoward.

“And temper getting cross,” (6, 745-746).

 

Verb

1. To crucify. Obs.
2. To make the sign of the cross upon or over.

“Buck Mulligan made way for him to scramble past and, glancing at Haines and Stephen, crossed himself piously with his thumbnail at brow and lips and breastbone,” (1, 692-694).

 

3. To mark with a cross in sign of a vow; of the vow to wrest the Holy Land from the Saracens; = croise v.2. Obs.

“All crossed themselves and stood up,” (5, 414).

 

4. To pass over a line, boundary, river, channel, etc.; to pass from one side to the other of any space.

“He turned northeast and crossed the firmer sand towards the Pigeonhouse,” (3, 159-160).

 

5. To thwart, oppose, go counter to.

“You crossed her last wish in death and yet you sulk with me because I don’t whinge like some hired mute from Lalouette’s,” (1, 212-214).