Ithaca (my close reading of an interesting question)

“How had [Bloom] attempted to remedy this state of her [Molly’s] comparative ignorance?

Variously. By leaving in a conspicuous place a certain book pen at a certain page: by assuming in her, when alluding explanatorily, latent knowledge: by open ridicule in her presence of some absent other’s ignorant lapse” (562: 693-697).

Despite knowing of the rift, both mental and sexual, between Bloom and Molly, we have not yet heard a lot of reasoning behind it, and we have only seen their relationship through the eyes of Bloom. Here, the detached, scientific mode of question and answer appears similar to omniscient narration. Although Bloom may not be responsible for asking the question of what has been done to “remedy” or fix Molly’s “state of comparative ignorance,” he is responsible for his actions that follow in the answer. And I find his answer shocking, considering how empathetic he is toward Molly throughout the novel, buying her books she would like, fondly remembering good times with her—even desperately trying to remain calm over her affair with Blazes. That Bloom has tried “various” ways to “remedy” Molly’s state of intelligence, or lack thereof, sheds a less favorable light on Bloom.

More likely, however, this answer is Bloom’s love for Molly, showcased by his efforts to care for her education while not insulting her intelligence, hoping she will stumble upon a bit of nourishing knowledge. “By leaving in a conspicuous place a certain book pen at a certain page,” Bloom is setting the stage for his wife to expand her intelligence. This action is also evidence to suggest that Bloom has faith in Molly’s “latent” knowledge—that she may or may not actually possess. He even goes as far as to try and make her feel like she does possess the intelligence or inner life that he is ultimately uncertain whether or not she has by “ridicule[ing] some absent other’s ignorant lapse… in her presence,” which can also be viewed as an act of love, because Bloom is building his own confidence in Molly’s intelligence.

It is difficult to know how to read this question and answer, mostly because I feel as though I need Molly’s perspective to do so. (And maybe that is what Joyce is leading us to think). We know by this point that Bloom is a good guy and would never intentionally do anything to hurt or upset Molly, but we know they are not happy together, and there must be at least one factor as to why that is, intentional or not.

I think this passage really calls into to question what it means to love someone. Is there such a thing as caring too much? We know caring too much can hurt ourselves, but can it also hurt others? It seems as though Bloom cares so much about Molly that he has pushed what he wants or needs away from the surface of his consciousness, leaving him lonely and hurt. And perhaps Molly is also left lonely and hurt from her misinterpretations of Bloom’s well intended actions.

As the mechanical, repetitive question and answer session of Ithaca suggests, the “answer” to such questions about what it means to love are complicated and ultimately unsatisfying, because they are incalculable.