The Young Women's Courtship Games

Finnegans Wake

This flow traces how the young women surrounding Jaun turn admiration, rivalry, and playful selection into a shifting contest of affection.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Girls Assemble The Girls Assemble from "Finnegans Wake". The Girls Assemble A social chorus forms Groups of young women gather around the teacher and become a collective presence.

The Girls Assemble from "Finnegans Wake". The Girls Assemble A social chorus forms Groups of young women gather around the teacher and become a collective presence.

The Girls Assemble A social chorus forms Groups of young women gather around the teacher and become a collective presence. Attention becomes a game Their shared looks and voices begin a playful contest for notice and affection.

The Suitor Is Tested The Suitor Is Tested from "Finnegans Wake". The Suitor Is Tested The young man faces questions The girls test Jaun through jokes, riddles, and playful challenges.

The Suitor Is Tested from "Finnegans Wake". The Suitor Is Tested The young man faces questions The girls test Jaun through jokes, riddles, and playful challenges.

The Suitor Is Tested The young man faces questions The girls test Jaun through jokes, riddles, and playful challenges. Courtship becomes performance His ability to answer matters as much as his actual intentions.

The Girls Choose and Rechoose

The Girls Choose and Rechoose Preferences shift The girls appear through changing colors, names, and imagined pairings. Desire stays mobile No single choice can permanently settle the social game.

Rivalry Breaks Out Rivalry Breaks Out from "Finnegans Wake". Rivalry Breaks Out Competition becomes physical comedy The contestants and their rivals trade gestures, boasts, and playful blows.

Rivalry Breaks Out from "Finnegans Wake". Rivalry Breaks Out Competition becomes physical comedy The contestants and their rivals trade gestures, boasts, and playful blows.

Rivalry Breaks Out Competition becomes physical comedy The contestants and their rivals trade gestures, boasts, and playful blows. The contest remains theatrical Even conflict serves the spectacle of choosing and being chosen.

The Gathering Disperses The Gathering Disperses from "Finnegans Wake". The Gathering Disperses A social game ends for now The girls' chorus loosens as Jaun turns toward departure.

The Gathering Disperses from "Finnegans Wake". The Gathering Disperses A social game ends for now The girls' chorus loosens as Jaun turns toward departure.

The Gathering Disperses A social game ends for now The girls' chorus loosens as Jaun turns toward departure. Affections remain unresolved Their playful rivalries persist as possibilities rather than completed romances.

At the opening of the night-school scene

During the girls' questions and teasing

During the color and flower sequences

During the mock courtship battles

As Jaun prepares to leave