Ulysses, Episode VIV: Scylla and Charybdis

In this chapter, set in the National Library at 2pm, we see Stephen deliver his interpretations of Shakespearean works. Throughout Ulysses, there are references to many of Shakespeare's plays, perhaps most importantly among is Hamlet. The theme of ghosts that is prevalent in Ulysses is also a major part of Hamlet, that being the haunting of the protagonist by the ghost of his father. A myriad parodies may be drawn between the two works, most strikingly is Bloom's father who having committed suicide haunts Leopold's memory, particularly in the Hades episode. Similarly, the digressive nature of Bloom and Daedalus is comparable to the procrastination of Hamlet in exacting his revenge for the murder of his father.
Nevertheless, it is not necessary for the reader to know Shakespeare's play chapter and verse to get a good understanding of the discussion that takes place in this chapter. Many of the views expressed by Stephen and
John Eglington (the real-life librarian of the National library) are based on dubious pseudo-biographical works of Shakespeare's life (in truth, little is known about his personal life). Joyce satirizes this by making absurd claims such as 'whether Hamlet is Shakespeare or James I' (p.177). Also though, there are points raised that relate to the novel as a whole, Stephen asks: 'What is a ghost?' (p.180).
The episode references other plays such as King Lear, Othello, the Tempest and the Comedy of Errors as well as many others. Although this chapter may seem an unnecessary digression from the novel it is in fact a closer analysis of the story and its characters. Joyce does not simply compare Ulysses to a series of Shakespeare plays but instead integrates Shakespeare into the minds of the characters, the result of this is a cerebral critiquing of the plays. The psychological and spiritual elements of the plays are expressed through narrative streams of thought: hesouls, shesouls, shoals of souls. Engulfed with wailing creecries' (p.184).
Stephen gives a summarising remark about Shakespearean tragedy: 'Where there is a reconciliation there must have been a sundering' (p.185). This is a fitting epitaph both for Shakespeare and Ulysses, though Joyce's fractured narratives inhibit any solid reconciliation, there is a progressive structure to the novel that links episode to episode.