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About Garrett Z
Expertise
As an instructor of literature and the humanities, my experience is as broad as the experience I have gained in the classroom. As a published author and journalist, I have first hand industry experience. Between the two, I have the experience, knowledge, and research experience that could certainly answer any questions that may be asked of me.

Experience
Quite specifically, as an instructor I am an extremely well qualified candidate as an initial resource as well as a person who knows specifically where to gather the correct information at any given time. As a published journalist and novelist, my experience broadens into the fundimental understanding of the craft and its application and business. I was also previously an AllExperts expert several years ago, and was well received by all who I helped.

Organizations
Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society.

Publications
All of the following are published or broadcast in Massachusetts unless otherwise noted. The Boston Globe, The Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise, The Worcester Telegram and Gazette, The Miller Hall Folio, WGBH PBS Channel 2 Boston, WBUR 91.3 FM NPR Boston, The Wentworth Transcript (A&E Editor), and WXPL 91.3 FM.

Education/Credentials
A.S. Wentworth Institute Of Technology
B.S. Fitchburg State College M.A. Fitchburg State College, Thesis "The Modern Twain Epoch"

Awards and Honors
Magna Cum Laude.

You are here: Experts > Homework Help > Mark Twain > Literature > Ulysses (Joyce)

Literature - Ulysses (Joyce)

Expert: Garrett Z - 10/30/2009

Question
Hello Garrett Z,

I am reading Ulysses for the first time (the 1922 edition) and wondering why "jew" is never capitalized, whereas other cultural groups are indeed capitalized. Can you tell me why?

Thanks.

Mike

Answer
Mike

On a very simple level, many of the characters in the novel are clearly meant to be antisemitic, and the lack of capitalization on the part of Joyce may highlight several things - but most prominently the underscoring of god and religion in general in the book. Hopefully you understand what I mean in the context of the characters Deasy and Haines.

While we cannot speculate on the author's ultimate goals in doing this, I would assume that as a postmodern writer we can accept any poetic liberties with punctuation, capitalization, and general modernist standards as a deliberate (and as audience members, wholly uncertain) move by Joyce. I would say that if you have your own hypothesis and you can back it up, you are probably right in the approach of Reader Response criticism... I just believe that it is the theme of religious understatement or denial that makes this minute change possible in the context of the book.

G

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