Occupations and Preoccupations: Work in Ulysses

摘要: Shew me a People energetically busy; heaving, struggling, all shoulders at the wheel ... I shew you of whom great good is already predictable. Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present If undertake to put my shoulder wheel, do it, earn what get. Charles Dickens, Bleak House Monday morning. Start afresh. Shoulder wheel. James Joyce, Ulysses WHEN THOMAS CARLYLE TOLD HIS PUBLIC he was confirming Victorian obsession his own "Gospel: Work, therein have wellbeing" (201). The association Carlyle makes in between work well-being, founding justifying principle behind secular ethic, not offered as an entirely unproblematic panacea for psychological, spiritual, or social anxiety. He recognizes difficulty accruing mental moral benefits from performed under laissez-faire economy attempts distinguish commercial ambition which mitigates egoism. But continues offer Gospel Work indiscriminately unreservedly idle aristocracy, potential middle-class Captains Industry, "noble Workers" ("It call") (271). castigates aristocracy dilettantism, middle class Mammon, working Chartist class-consciousness, nonetheless finds solution their various lives Work. His absolutist rhetoric, dream world-dominant England, steer him into invariable all-embracing doctrine divorced immediate historical context. disregards class--class interests, opportunities, conditions--at very point when most relevant. It if produces stable identity, communal bonds, well-being; ultimately insists upon even conditions could possibly lead well-being. That Dickens read, lauded, dramatized Carlyle's principles has been well documented. (1) In particular, echoed belief salutary, non-economic incidentals work. Will Fern Chimes begs something (not living) patronage paternalist ethics codes. positions those who against not, action knowledge, vitality idleness, effectiveness sanctioned futility largely celebrate its intrinsic effects. residuals selfless are personal integrity certainty. Yet resounds Carlylean cliche "shoulder wheel"? Mr Vholes. Vholes one "Poets" "Heroes"; rodent-like, sanctimonious lawyer feeding off naivete helplessness. A wheel" favourite expression tableau wishes be remembered: can always found, says, with (611). For ethic provides opportunity secure financial profit means satisfy ambition. Though little patience self-aggrandizement latter shows growing doubt about universal panacean absolutism familiar adage age where optimizing masquerades philosophy. endorses private value "the ethic," but adumbrates crises petrified ideologues. Leopold Bloom repeats while on route Patty Dignam's funeral. comes consciousness thinking Martin Cunningham, whose drunkard wife pawns furniture quick money. believes, ease burden caused by domestic troubles putting wheel." also responds insecurities embracing ethic. instead procuring well-nigh fixates During funeral begins think keyes ad campaign; ruminating need finalize that deal dominates part day. …