{"id":330,"date":"2016-10-13T01:03:07","date_gmt":"2016-10-13T01:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eriksimpson.sites.grinnell.edu\/Ulysses16\/?p=330"},"modified":"2016-10-13T01:03:07","modified_gmt":"2016-10-13T01:03:07","slug":"lexicon-in-progess-blind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eriksimpson.sites.grinnell.edu\/Ulysses16\/uncategorized\/lexicon-in-progess-blind\/","title":{"rendered":"Lexicon-in-Progess: Blind"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forms<\/strong><\/p>\n

blind, blindly<\/p>\n

Related Terms<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eyes,\u00a0Window,\u00a0See<\/p>\n

Explication<\/strong><\/p>\n

Due to its ability to function as a noun, verb, and adjective, the use of the word blind<\/strong> serves a few main purposes throughout Ulysses<\/em>. The first comes through the noun form of the word\u2014something that blocks out light or the ability to see. Throughout the novel, the image of a blind often comes up with reference to a character\u2019s proximity to a window and the purpose it does or does not serve. One of the first interactions readers witness between Leopold Bloom and Molly involves an inquiry about a physical blind<\/strong>: \u201c\u2014Do you want the blind<\/strong> up? \/ Letting the blind<\/strong> up by gentle tugs\u2026\u201d (U. 4.255-256). In this sense, the object of a blind<\/strong> operates a noun with a specific purpose: to prevent a certain capability (sight or light) from occurring.<\/p>\n

Another significant usage of blind<\/strong> in the novel is as an illustrative adjective. Used to describe historical figures (i.e. \u201cold blind<\/strong> Abraham\u201d U. 5.201), as well as recurring characters (refer to U. 8.1075), it expectedly depicts images of those who cannot see. Throughout the novel this form is used to both describe characters that are actually incapable of sight, or simply those who show attributes that would label them as such (i.e. obliviousness). However, blind<\/strong> as an adjective also serves to describe a certain type of belief that comes up throughout the novel. Filled with (often ironic) religious imagery, Joyce\u2019s word choice of \u201cblind<\/strong> faith\u201d (U. 5. 377) must be evaluated with this tone in mind. In this way, blind<\/strong> comes up as a description of those who take comforts in religion without any worry or deeper understanding, a concept complicated throughout Ulysses. <\/em><\/p>\n

Although sparsely used throughout the novel, blind<\/strong> as a verb does come up to convey the action of causing a state characterized by the inability to see. The first time the verb form of blind<\/strong> occurs is in reference to both an animal, and not actually carrying out the action: \u201cit wouldn\u2019t blind<\/strong> him\u201d (U. 12. 700). Although this portrays an occurrence in which the verb wouldn\u2019t actually happen, the repetitive use of the word throughout Ulysses<\/em> makes such an instance stand out. The novel spends much time depicting characters (and animals) with reference to their ability to see, and their awareness of the space in which they inhabit.<\/p>\n

Definitions and\u00a0Examples<\/b><\/p>\n

I. Blind, n. <\/strong>Anything which obstructs the light or sight. (OED 1). spec.<\/em>\u00a0A screen for a window, made of woven material mounted on a roller, of wire gauze,\u00a0<\/strong>etc.; used to prevent the entrance of too much light, or to keep people from seeing in. (OED 2).<\/p>\n