Joyce’s writing impressed me the most in this chapter. I didn’t expect Joyce to ever pull the focus away from Stephen or Bloom, or even reveal minor characters’ thoughts. I love how Joyce was able to capture the busy atmosphere of midday by relaying what multiple characters are doing at the same moment. I think the repetition of certain lines or character allows Joyce to place significant focus on certain details. For example he does this to show how admirable and charming Blazes Boylan is. In his section of the chapter we see Blazes flirting with a clerk. Then later Master Dignam points out a person “with a swell pair of kicks with him” (251). And then in the regal procession section Blazes is shown giving his red flower to a group of young ladies.
One time that Joyce uses this method best is how so many people mock Bloom. The fact that everyone who notices Bloom mocks him shows the extent of his unsociability. In a way it almost seems unnatural. Of all the times this happens my favorite is between M’Coy and Lenehan. M’Coy talks about Blooms wife as a sexual object. In the description he “hands moulded ample curves of air” (234). For one thing I loved how this paralleled Bloom thinking about the curves of a goddess a few chapters back. I like how Molly is sexually objectified by many people, making her like Helen. But since Bloom already knew this woman, what can he fantasize about other than a god? One other aspect of M’Coy and Lenehan’s exchange is when they wonder whether Bloom is looking for “Leopoldo or Bloom is on the Rye.” The mockings seem unnatural in how they were right. Even though Bloom was not looking for something with his name in the title, he was looking at “Tales of the Ghetto” by Leopold von Sacher Masoch.

“Father Conmee thought of that tyrannous incontinence, needed however for men’s race on earth, and of the ways of God which were not our ways”

I feel that this thought of Father Conmee holds tremendous weight in this chapter. If he were considering the incontinence of men it would make sense that Joyce would include a survey of human actions. In this chapter there are instances of drunkenness, promiscuity, greed, and bigotry. Furthermore for almost every person there is a mention of how the sunlight hits his or her eyes. This is reminiscent to Deseay’s claim that the Jews “sinned against the light…and you can see the darkness in there eyes” (34). One example of this is when Dilly “saw sunshades spanned and wheelspokes spinning in the glare” (253). While I do not want to try to diagram and make conclusions about who is pious based on the light in their eyes, I think that this shows Joyce’s ability to flesh out a motif.

Questions:

Both Bloom and Master Dignam mourn the loss of their father. Also Dignam is one of the few characters whose inner-thoughts were revealed. Do you see another possible parallels between the two characters?