II.4: Mamalujo (pp. 383–399)
The fourth chapter of Book II is a brief, lyrical episode: the Four Old Men (Mamalujo), transformed into seagulls, watch Tristan and Isolde making love on a ship.
Quick Reference
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pages | 383–399 |
| Vico Age | Aristocratic (Age of Heroes) |
| Time | Deep night |
| Setting | A ship at sea |
| Main Characters | Tristan, Isolde, the Four Old Men |
Synopsis
The Observers (pp. 383–386)
The Four Old Men—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—appear as seagulls watching from above.
Tristan and Isolde (pp. 386–396)
The lovers make love on a ship, observed anxiously by the old men.
Four Commentaries (pp. 396–399)
Each old man offers his perspective on what he sees—"always repeating themselves."
Mamalujo
The name "Mamalujo" combines:
- Matt Gregory
- Marcus Lyons
- Luke Tarpey
- Johnny Mac Dougall
They represent:
- The Four Evangelists
- The Four Provinces of Ireland (Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connaught)
- The Four Masters (Irish annalists)
- Joyce's own family (according to Joyce): Nora (mama), Lucia (lu), Giorgio (jo)
Key Themes
1. The Aging Witness
The Four Old Men were once protagonists themselves. Now they can only watch as younger figures enact the eternal story.
2. Oedipal Triangle
Tristan cuckolding King Mark (an HCE figure) represents:
- Son displacing father
- New generation replacing old
- The eternal cycle continuing
3. Tristan and Isolde
The medieval romance provides the mythic framework. Tristan (nephew/son) steals Mark's bride—the oedipal betrayal.
4. The Ship
The lovers on a ship sailing away—the old men (Mark/HCE) left behind.
Notable Passages
The Seagulls (pp. 383–384)
The old men as birds watching from above.
The Love Scene (pp. 388–395)
Tristan and Isolde's shipboard lovemaking.
The Four Perspectives (pp. 396–399)
Each old man comments on what he sees.
Characters in This Chapter
| Character | Appears As | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Gregory | Seagull/Evangelist | Ulster/Matthew |
| Marcus Lyons | Seagull/Evangelist | Munster/Mark |
| Luke Tarpey | Seagull/Evangelist | Leinster/Luke |
| Johnny Mac Dougall | Seagull/Evangelist | Connaught/John |
| Tristan | Himself | Lover/new HCE |
| Isolde | Herself | ALP/Issy figure |
| King Mark | Implied | Old HCE |
Publication History
The "Mamalujo" sketch was the first fragment from the Wake to be published—appearing in Transatlantic Review in April 1924.
The Eternal Story Continues
Campbell and Robinson:
"They themselves, in younger days, were protagonists of the great life-roles which they can now only regard and review. Life once stirred in them and shaped them; but it has moved on, so that they now are but cast-off shells."
The old men are what HCE will become—observers of the next generation's passion.
Audio Resources
| Resource | Notes |
|---|---|
| One Little Goat | Video with subtitles |
| Patrick Healy reading | Complete audio |
| Waywords and Meansigns | Musical settings |
Reading Tips
- Note the brevity — At 16 pages, this is one of the shortest chapters
- Watch the observers — The Four Old Men are the key
- Feel the melancholy — The old watching the young
- Connect to Book IV — The ricorso approaches
Further Reading
- Campbell & Robinson, A Skeleton Key, Chapter 12 commentary
- McHugh, Annotations to Finnegans Wake, pages 383–399
- FWEET — Search "383.01" onward
See Also
- II.3: In the Pub — Previous chapter
- III.1: Shaun the Post — Next chapter (Book III begins)
- Characters — The Four Old Men