Very like a whale

Phrases from Hamlet sound in Stephen's interior monologue repeatedly during Proteus––unsurprisingly, because the account of Shakespeare's life and works that he will be propounding in a few hours centers on Hamlet, and because like Hamlet he is dressed in black. Some of his recollections from this play seem to help Stephen think about his calling as an artist.

John Hunt 2015

Ian McKellen as Hamlet, UK and European tour, 1971. Source: www.mckellen.com.

Writing tables from 1604, held in the Folger Shakespeare Library. Source: www.bookdrum.com.