Wilder’s Joyce: Inspiration, Borrowing, Appropriation, Plagiarism

American novelist and playwright Thornton Wilder’s lifelong attraction to passion for if not obsession with the work of James Joyce has led unintended consequences. Wilder was writing what would become his second Pulitzer Prize winning play, The Skin Our Teeth, while in midst “unriddling” Joyce’s final novel, Finnegans Wake. Accusations plagiarism subsequently arise from two major scholars, Joseph Campbell Henry Morton Robinson as they raised questions about tipping point creative practice, at which common practices textual influence reference cross line into excessive borrowings plagiarism. Such accusations, failed acknowledge fully address a timely fashion, have lingered discredit obscured achievements both scholar experimental literature particular emphasis on Joyce. essay details need return reassess issues practice within current theoretical climate intertextuality thus pioneering Ulysses