Character Deep Dives
The characters of Finnegans Wake are both specific individuals and universal archetypes. Each appears under hundreds of names, transforming across history, mythology, and dream.
The Earwicker Family
| Character | Role | Sigil | Key Chapter |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCE | Father/Husband | ⌂ | I.2–4, III.3 |
| ALP | Mother/Wife | Δ | I.8, IV |
| Shem | Son/Artist | ⊏ | I.7 |
| Shaun | Son/Postman | ⊐ | III.1–3 |
| Issy | Daughter | ⋀ | II.1–2 |
The Family Structure
HCE ⌂ ———————— ALP Δ
|
__________|__________
| | |
Shem ⊏ Shaun ⊐ Issy ⋀
Oppositions
| Pair | Relationship | Represents |
|---|---|---|
| HCE / ALP | Husband / Wife | Mountain / River, City / Water |
| Shem / Shaun | Twin Brothers | Artist / Postman, Introvert / Extrovert |
| Issy / Herself | Mirror Image | Split personality, Self and Other |
Secondary Characters
The Four Old Men (Mamalujo)
| Name | Evangelist | Province | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Gregory | Matthew | Ulster | Historian |
| Marcus Lyons | Mark | Munster | Judge |
| Luke Tarpey | Luke | Leinster | Chronicler |
| Johnny Mac Dougall | John | Connaught | Witness |
They appear throughout as witnesses, judges, and chroniclers—older versions of HCE watching younger versions enact the eternal story.
The Twelve
Twelve jurors/apostles/customers who appear in crowd scenes, particularly during trials and pub scenes.
Kate
The cleaning woman who tends the midden heap where the letter is found. She connects past to present through memory.
The Cad
The stranger HCE encounters in Phoenix Park—possibly his own double, possibly the next generation's HCE.
Character Transformation
Unlike realistic fiction, Wake characters transform constantly:
HCE appears as:
- Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker
- Here Comes Everybody
- Haveth Childers Everywhere
- Finn MacCool
- King Mark
- Adam
- Tim Finnegan
- Mr. Porter
- The sleeping city of Dublin
ALP appears as:
- Anna Livia Plurabelle
- The River Liffey
- Eve
- All the rivers of the world
- The letter-writer
- The hen (Biddy)
- Mrs. Porter
The Sigla System
Joyce developed private symbols for the characters around 1925–1926:
| Symbol | Character | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ⌂ | HCE | House/Mountain |
| Δ | ALP | Delta/Triangle/River mouth |
| ⊏ | Shem | Open to the left (introvert) |
| ⊐ | Shaun | Open to the right (extrovert) |
| ⋀ | Issy | Divided/Mirror |
These sigla appear in Joyce's notebooks and drafts, helping him track characters across their many manifestations.
Patterns of Appearance
The 3-2-1 Pattern
A recurring configuration throughout the Wake:
- 3 soldiers/witnesses
- 2 girls/temptresses
- 1 man/cad/HCE
This pattern appears in every retelling of HCE's crime.
The Numbers
| Number | Represents |
|---|---|
| 1 | HCE (the father) |
| 2 | Issy and her mirror / the two girls |
| 3 | The soldiers / Shem+Shaun+Issy |
| 4 | The Four Old Men |
| 7 | Rainbow girls / days of creation |
| 12 | Jury / apostles / customers |
| 28/29 | Issy's schoolmates / days of February |
Mythological Parallels
Each character has mythological counterparts:
HCE
- Finn MacCool (Irish)
- Adam (Biblical)
- Osiris (Egyptian)
- King Mark (Arthurian)
- Humpty Dumpty (Nursery rhyme)
ALP
- The Liffey goddess (Irish)
- Eve (Biblical)
- Isis (Egyptian)
- Isolde (Arthurian)
Shem & Shaun
- Cain & Abel
- Jacob & Esau
- Set & Horus
- Romulus & Remus
- Saint Michael & the Devil
Issy
- Isolde (Arthurian)
- Persephone (Greek)
- The rainbow
- Lucia Joyce (biographical)
Reading Characters
Tips
- Watch for initials: H-C-E or A-L-P patterns signal character presence
- Note transformations: The same character may shift identity mid-sentence
- Accept multiplicity: Characters are simultaneously themselves and their archetypes
- Track relationships: Family dynamics persist even when names change
Example
"Howth Castle and Environs" (p. 3)
This is simultaneously:
- A place name (Howth Castle)
- HCE's initials
- The beginning of HCE's presence in the text
Further Reading
- Adaline Glasheen, Third Census of Finnegans Wake — Complete character index
- Roland McHugh, The Sigla of Finnegans Wake — Joyce's character symbols
- Campbell & Robinson, A Skeleton Key — Character interpretations