# V explained — Ulysses

> Chapter companion for Ulysses by James Joyce.

## What happens

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.

## Themes in this chapter

### Alienation and Belonging

Bloom feels detached from the Catholic mass and the community, observing rituals from the outside.

### The Body and Sensuality

Bloom's thoughts on Martha's letter, perfume, and physical desires intertwine with his observations of the mass.

### Mortality and Grief

Bloom reflects on his father's death and the funeral he is about to attend.

## Character check-ins

### Leopold Bloom

Main perspective; reads Martha's letter, attends mass, muses on his father's death and his wife Molly.

### Martha Clifford

Bloom's secret correspondent; her letter is read and contemplated.

### Molly Bloom

Referenced in Bloom's thoughts about her perfume and her singing at a past mass.

### M'Coy

Mentioned as someone Bloom wishes he hadn't met earlier.

### Corny Kelleher

Thought to have secured a funeral job for O'Neill's.

### Tom Kernan

Bloom thinks of getting tea from him but decides not to ask at a funeral.

### Rudolph Bloom

Bloom's father; remembered in the opening lines as having died of grief.

### Major Tweedy

Molly's father; Bloom recalls his old regiment while looking at a recruiting poster.

## Key lines

> Poor papa! Poor man! I’m glad. I didn’t go into the room to look at his face.

Bloom recalls his father's death with a mix of sorrow and relief that he avoided seeing the corpse.

_Reflects Bloom's complicated feelings about his father's suicide._

> Dear Henry, I got your last letter to me and thank you very much for it. I am sorry you did not like my last letter. Why did you enclose the stamps?

Martha's letter to Bloom (under the pseudonym Henry Flower) expresses frustration and longing.

_Reveals Bloom's secret correspondence and his flirtatious relationship with Martha._

> Language of flowers. They like it because no-one can hear. Or a poison bouquet to strike him down.

Bloom muses on the hidden meanings in flowers, comparing them to secret messages.

_Connects to the theme of secret communication and the ambiguity of symbols._

> Wonderful organisation certainly, goes like clockwork. Confession. Everyone wants to. Then I will tell you all. Penance. Punish me, please. Great weapon in their hands.

Bloom observes the Catholic Church's structured rituals and the power of confession.

_Highlights Bloom's critical view of religious institutions and their control over individuals._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ulysses_se/chapters/v
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ulysses_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ulysses_se/chapters