Between Roast and Hodgepodge (Joyce and Cervantes)

Abstract

Comparing the alimentary habits of Joyce’s Mr. Bloom and Cervantes’ Don Quixote there can be seen, as well as some curious coincidences, very significant distinguishing traits: in fact, the diet of the Dubliner consists in the inner organs of the beasts, while in the diet of the knight errant prevail the beasts’ external parts or straightforward meat. This divergence, which discourse manifests on an alimentary plan, corresponds to a well determined semiotic opposition (internal / external), with several narratological implications, affecting the narrative structure, the device of parody, the relationship between author and reader and, finally, the creation of possible worlds accessible through different barriers. There is no doubt that the opposing category thus evidenced falls into the several possible symbolical meanings of the diet of heroes and shows quite clearly the aptitude of the sender towards a receiver committed to interpreting the text.