The Language of Nonsense in Joyce_Bianco

In James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake, Joyce creates a complex prose that demonstrates the language of nonsense. Joyce uses polysemy throughout the prose to characterize the work itself. Polysemy is defined as a word or symbol having multiple meanings. Joyce starts the prose with, “riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s, from swerve to shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs”. The first word use is ‘riverrun’, riverrun would either be the river running past Adam and Eve or it could be used to suggest Adam and Eve’s past. Through the usage of polysemy, Joyce demonstrates the constant repetition of history. By beginning with the biblical reference of creation as well as references to the fall of the angels, Joyce hints at the nature of humankind. This is particularly demonstrated in the first sentence when he states, “commodius vicus of recirculation’. The word ‘commodius’ could refer to a roman emperor yet it could also mean decay or commode.

 The double meaning of words that Joyce plays upon also demonstrates the duality of humankind. Duality is the theory that the mind and body are separate yet intertwined. Humankind demonstrates duality in that both men and women demonstrate dual sides in their individualism and personality. This is furthered by the introduction of the main characters H.C.E. and A.L.P. While the main characters are never introduced by their full names, Joyce constantly refers to them with a slew of various names, metaphors and abbreviations. For example, in the first sentence of Finnegans Wake, Joyce immediately introduces H.C.E. within the first sentence with the usage of ‘Howth Castle and Environs’. With both H.C.E and A.L.P. having various names and abbreviations, it furthers the duality of humankind.

            Joyce also demonstrates the crescendos and climaxes of history through the usage of random nonsense. For instance, “bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk!”. Joyce intermingles the nonsense words throughout the prose, which creates the feeling of repetition and fluidity. Each of the nonsense words break apart any original sense of understanding of the prose, adding to the multi-meaning nature of the prose. The failure for one to find meaning within such nonsense words adds to the feeling of one never being able to find meaning within the repetitive nature of history.