The term “upcast” in literature often evokes themes of inversion and altered perspective, serving both literal and metaphorical purposes. In Dante's Inferno [1], the word describes an object—a stake with its lower end upcast—in a way that mirrors a state of disarray and despair, suggesting its unnatural, inverted position and hinting at the inner torment of the soul. Conversely, in Ulysses [2], Joyce employs “upcast” to depict the erratic, shimmering reflection of a lamp and shade, using the term to evoke the transient interplay of light and shadow. In both cases, “upcast” enriches the narrative by imbuing the scenes with a sense of disruption, whether in physical form or in the deeper emotional landscape.