# Penelope explained — Ulysses

> Chapter companion for Ulysses by James Joyce.

## What happens

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.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Body and Sensuality

Molly's frank thoughts on sex, desire, and physical intimacy.

### Memory and History

Molly's recollections of Gibraltar, her youth, and past relationships.

### Alienation and Belonging

Molly's sense of isolation and her longing for connection and understanding.

## Character check-ins

### Molly Bloom

Protagonist of the episode; her uninterrupted stream of consciousness.

### Leopold Bloom

Molly's husband; she reflects on his habits, their marriage, and his request for breakfast in bed.

### Stephen Dedalus

Young man Bloom brought home; Molly considers him staying and imagines teaching him Spanish.

### Blazes Boylan

Molly's lover; she recalls his visit and the letter he sent.

### Mrs Breen

Mentioned as Josie Powell; Molly recalls her and other acquaintances.

### Gerty MacDowell

Molly thinks of her as a young woman on the beach.

## Key lines

> I suppose he was as shy as a boy he being so young hardly 20 of me in the next room

Molly thinks Stephen Dedalus was shy because he is young, only about 20, while she was in the next room.

_Molly reflects on Stephen's youth and shyness._

> Mulveys was the first when I was in bed that morning and Mrs Rubio brought it in with the coffee

Molly recalls her first love letter from Mulvey, delivered by Mrs Rubio with her morning coffee.

_Memory of her first romantic correspondence._

> he was the first man kissed me under the Moorish wall my sweetheart when a boy

Mulvey was the first to kiss her, beneath the Moorish wall in Gibraltar.

_Molly's first kiss and its setting._

> O thanks be to the great God I got somebody to give me what I badly wanted to put some heart up into me

Molly is grateful for the sexual satisfaction she received, which lifted her spirits.

_Molly's relief and pleasure after Boylan's visit._

> and I thought well as well him as another and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower

Molly remembers accepting Bloom's marriage proposal, thinking one man is as good as another, and saying yes.

_Climactic memory of Bloom's proposal and her acceptance._

## Links

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