383-86: Four Old Men spy on the love ship of Tristram and Iseult
386-88: Johnny MacDougall comments on the sea adventure
388-90: Marcus Lyons comments
390-93: Luke Tarpey comments
393-95: Mart Gregory comments 395-96: The sexual union of the young lovers
396-98: The four old men reminisce over the voyage
398-99: The Hymn of Iseult la Belle
Analysis of Finnegans Wake, Page 383
Summary
Page 383 presents a playful and mocking lyrical segment involving Muster Mark, a recurring character often linked to the figure of HCE. The text takes on the rhythm of a folksy or pub song, filled with humour, sexual innuendo, and lighthearted derision. Muster Mark is ridiculed for his shortcomings while being cast as a somewhat foolish figure in a quasi-mythical setting. The narrative transitions to a depiction of seabirds singing as Tristan and Isolde's mythological romance is invoked, weaving together themes of love, mockery, and maritime imagery.
Detailed Analysis
383.01–383.03
"Three quarks for Muster Mark!"
- This famous line introduces a chant mocking Muster Mark. The phrase "Three quarks" is notable for inspiring the term "quark" in physics, but here it functions as a nonsensical toast or cheer.
- Hiberno-English: The rhythm and phrasing mimic Irish pub songs or ballads, contributing to the satirical tone.
- "He hasn't got much of a bark": This line ridicules Muster Mark's lack of authority or voice, using "bark" both literally (as in a dog) and figuratively (as in speech).
383.04–383.07
"Wreneagle Almighty, wouldn't un be a sky of a lark..."
- Joyce combines humour with vivid imagery, imagining Muster Mark comically stumbling about in the dark searching for his trousers.
- "Wreneagle Almighty": Likely a playful corruption of "Wren," a small bird, and "eagle," a majestic bird. This could reference Irish folklore, where the wren is associated with cunning.
- Irish culture: The mention of "Palmerstown Park" grounds the scene in Dublin geography, connecting the farcical figure of Muster Mark to local Irish settings.
383.08–383.10
"Hohohoho, moulty Mark!"
- The repeated "Hohohoho" mocks Muster Mark's grandeur, while "moulty" suggests he is akin to a bird shedding feathers, an image of decline or humiliation.
- "Noah’s ark": This biblical allusion adds an ironic weight to the ridicule, placing Muster Mark in a grandiose setting that he fails to live up to.
- "Cock of the wark": A pun on "cock of the walk," highlighting Muster Mark’s pretensions to dominance while making a phallic joke.
383.11–383.14
"Tristy's the spry young spark..."
- A shift to Tristy (likely a form of Tristan from the Tristan and Isolde myth), who is presented as a virile, active contrast to the hapless Muster Mark.
- Sexual innuendo: The playful language—"tread her and wed her and bed her and red her"—suggests Tristan’s prowess in love and his ability to consummate relationships, unlike Muster Mark.
383.15–383.18
"Overhoved, shrillgleescreaming. That song sang seaswans."
- The narrative shifts to a mythic and lyrical register, describing seabirds singing about Tristan and Isolde’s love. The birds, like a Greek chorus, comment on the unfolding drama.
- Bird imagery: Seabirds (seahawk, seagull, curlew) evoke the maritime setting of Tristan and Isolde's tale, tying the text to themes of destiny, romance, and nature.
383.19–383.24
"And there they were too, when it was dark..."
- The story of Tristan and Isolde unfolds in a scene filled with suspense and anticipation, marked by the movement of their ship.
- Hiberno-English: Phrases like "listening in, as hard as they could" convey a colloquial tone.
- Mythology: The mention of "Dubbeldorp" (possibly a fictionalized Dublin or another European locale) and the "wardorse" (warhorse) add an epic quality to the narrative.
Hiberno-English
- The language on this page reflects Irish oral storytelling traditions, with its lilting rhythm, humour, and idiomatic expressions.
- Examples: "Three quarks" (reminiscent of an Irish toast or cheer), "cock of the wark" (a pun blending Irish and English idioms).
Irish References
- Palmerstown Park: A real location in Dublin, situating the mock-heroic antics of Muster Mark in a recognisable Irish context.
- Folklore: The wren-eagle imagery blends Irish folklore with mythological themes.
Sexual Innuendo
- The playful description of Tristy—“tread her and wed her and bed her and red her”—highlights Joyce’s use of sexual wordplay to explore themes of vitality and masculinity.
Humour
- Muster Mark is comically portrayed as a ridiculous figure, from his missing trousers to his ineffectual leadership.
- The mock-heroic tone, coupled with bawdy puns, undercuts any pretensions to grandeur.
Conclusion
Page 383 combines satire, myth, and lyrical beauty, juxtaposing the mockery of Muster Mark with the romantic legend of Tristan and Isolde. Through its rich wordplay and Hiberno-English idiom, Joyce explores themes of love, heroism, and human folly, while grounding the narrative in Irish culture and geography. The interplay of comedy and mythology underscores the book’s central concern with the cyclical nature of stories and identities.