Ulysses · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Ulysses by James Joyce.
Chapter 1
I
The chapter opens on the morning of June 16, 1904, at the Martello Tower in Sandycove. Buck Mulligan, a boisterous medical student, shaves on the parapet and teases Stephen Dedalus about his refusal to pray at his mother's deathbed. Their conversation reveals Stephen's deep grief and guilt over his mother's death, as well as tensions between the two men. Mulligan mocks Stephen's artistic pretensions, calling him a 'lovely mummer,' and the two exchange barbs about Irish art and identity. The chapter establishes Stephen's alienation and his fraught relationship with Mulligan, who is both a friend and a tormentor.
Chapter 2
I
The chapter opens on the morning of June 16, 1904, at the Martello Tower in Sandycove. Buck Mulligan, a boisterous medical student, shaves on the parapet and teases Stephen Dedalus about his refusal to pray at his mother's deathbed. Their conversation reveals Stephen's deep grief and guilt over his mother's death, as well as tensions between the two men. Mulligan mocks Stephen's artistic pretensions, calling him a 'lovely mummer,' and the two exchange barbs about Irish art and identity. The chapter establishes Stephen's alienation and his fraught relationship with Mulligan, who is both a friend and a tormentor.
Chapter 3
II
No excerpts provided for this chapter.
Chapter 4
Chapter III
No excerpts provided for this chapter.
Chapter 5
II
No excerpts provided for this chapter.
Chapter 6
Calypso
Leopold Bloom begins his day, preparing breakfast for his wife Molly, reading a letter from their daughter Milly, and reflecting on themes of mortality, reincarnation, and the mundane details of daily life. He visits the butcher, buys a kidney, and contemplates his own existence and the world around him.
Chapter 7
V
Leopold Bloom goes about his morning errands, retrieving a letter from his secret correspondent Martha Clifford at the post office, attending a Catholic mass, and reflecting on his past, his marriage, and the nature of religious ritual.
Chapter 8
VI
Bloom attends Paddy Dignam's funeral at Glasnevin Cemetery, reflecting on death, memory, and the rituals of burial. He observes the mourners, the priest, and the gravediggers, and interacts with Martin Cunningham, John Henry Menton, and Joe Hynes. Bloom contemplates mortality, the afterlife, and the physical decay of the body, while also recalling personal losses like his father and son Rudy.
Chapter 9
Aeolus
In the newspaper office, Leopold Bloom attempts to place an advertisement for Alexander Keyes, while Stephen Dedalus arrives with a letter from Mr Deasy. The chapter is filled with rhetorical flourishes, discussions of oratory and journalism, and a memorable speech by John F. Taylor about cultural revival.
Chapter 10
Lestrygonians
Leopold Bloom wanders through Dublin around lunchtime, reflecting on various topics including food, death, and the passage of time. He encounters acquaintances, observes the city's life, and recalls memories of his past with Molly and Milly.
Chapter 11
Scylla and Charybdis
In the National Library, Stephen Dedalus expounds his theory that Shakespeare's works, particularly Hamlet, are deeply autobiographical, shaped by the playwright's personal betrayals and losses. The discussion involves John Eglinton, Mr. Best, and the Quaker librarian, with Buck Mulligan arriving late. They debate Shakespeare's identity, the nature of genius, and the relationship between art and life, touching on themes of paternity, betrayal, and artistic creation.
Chapter 12
Wandering Rocks
This chapter follows multiple characters through the streets of Dublin, including Mr Kernan, Stephen Dedalus, Dilly Dedalus, Simon Dedalus, and Mr Bloom, as they encounter various sights, sounds, and interactions that reveal their inner thoughts and the city's social fabric.
Chapter 13
Chapter XI: Sirens
In the Ormond Hotel bar, Bloom listens to music and singing while reflecting on love, desire, and memory. Simon Dedalus and Ben Dollard perform, and Bloom observes the barmaids Miss Douce and Miss Kennedy. He thinks of Molly, Martha, and his own past, while Boylan passes by on his way to meet Molly.
Chapter 14
XII
In Barney Kiernan's pub, a group of Dubliners including the Citizen, Joe Hynes, John Wyse Nolan, and others discuss politics, capital punishment, and Leopold Bloom, who arrives and is met with hostility. The conversation veers into anti-Semitic remarks and a mock-heroic description of a hanging, while Bloom attempts to engage with scientific explanations.
Chapter 15
Nausicaa
Leopold Bloom rests on Sandymount Strand as evening falls, observing the nearby girls including Gerty MacDowell. Gerty, a young woman conscious of her appearance and romantic hopes, daydreams about a potential suitor. Bloom, tired and reflective, muses on memory, desire, and the passage of time. The chapter culminates in a silent, charged encounter between Bloom and Gerty, after which she departs and Bloom realizes she is lame. He then writes a message in the sand before drifting into a half-dream.
Chapter 16
Oxen of the Sun
In the National Maternity Hospital, a group of men including Stephen Dedalus, Leopold Bloom, and several medical students and friends gather to drink and discuss a range of topics from literature and philosophy to pregnancy, childbirth, and the nature of creation. The conversation meanders through bawdy jokes, theological debates, and reflections on paternity and loss, while Bloom quietly observes and recalls his own grief over his son Rudy and his daughter Milly. The chapter is notable for its parodic pastiche of English prose styles from different historical periods.
Chapter 17
XV
In this hallucinatory episode, Leopold Bloom is transformed into a fantastical figure—a lord mayor, a messianic leader, and a builder of the new Bloomusalem—as he parades through a surreal Dublin filled with pageantry, political satire, and grotesque comedy. The chapter juxtaposes Bloom's grandiose visions with tender moments, including his silent vigil over the sleeping Stephen Dedalus and a vision of his deceased son Rudy as a fairy boy. The narrative blends civic ceremony, bawdy humor, and deep paternal longing.
Chapter 18
Chapter III
No excerpts provided for this chapter.
Chapter 19
Chapter XVI
Bloom and Stephen continue their late-night conversation, touching on politics, personal history, and the challenges of their respective lives. Bloom reflects on Stephen's intellectual potential and the risks of bringing him home, while Stephen encounters the down-and-out Corley, who begs for money and a job. Bloom ultimately decides to offer Stephen shelter for the night.
Chapter 20
XVII
Bloom and Stephen walk together through Dublin, discussing a wide range of topics including music, literature, Ireland, and religion. They arrive at Bloom's home at 7 Eccles Street, where Bloom realizes he has forgotten his latchkey. After urinating together in the garden, they enter the house. Bloom reflects on past companions and the nature of existence, while Stephen departs. Bloom contemplates the stars and the universe, then returns inside.
Chapter 21
Penelope
Molly Bloom's soliloquy as she lies in bed, reflecting on her day, her marriage to Leopold Bloom, her affair with Blazes Boylan, memories of Gibraltar, and her thoughts on men, women, and life. She considers the possibility of Stephen Dedalus staying with them and ends with an affirmative memory of Bloom's proposal.
