The plot is filled with sexual graphic descriptions as well as visions of physiological needs, “Touch me. Soft eyes. Soft soft soft hand. I am lonely here. O, touch me soon, now. What is word known to all men? I am quiet here alone. Sad too. Touch, touch me.” (Ref.1, Episode 4, Stephen urinates behind the rock or when Stephen and Bloom urinate by the wall after drunken night out)One of the main characters Stephen (compared to Telemach from Odyssey), rather obscure and high thinking man whose inner dialogue of thoughts lead the story of one day in Dublin brings first comparisons of the book to an iconic peace of literature- Odyssey (lesson of History, Episode2). In episode I, Stephen finds himself being rudely provoked by few boys, “(…) Come up, you fearful Jesuit.” (ref to Ireland, “that has never extensively prosecuted Jews as they were never let into country”) (ref.1)
After Stephen ignores the anti-Semitic jokes we find him going into the world of his own thoughts about his late mother, and here in the book we can rather stop trying to understand the set up of the plot, it is clear that we cannot make anyone’s flow of thoughts understandable. They are chaotic, floating away to wherever our mind takes us reaching not only the conscious more down to earth thoughts but also sub- conscious hidden desires, needs, fears, emotional and strong feelings from the past as far as childhood and many other feelings that have impacted our lives. The structure of the stream of consciousness of the book is particularly exposed through Stephen’s interior monologue.In Episode II the narrative jumps to beginning of the day (8am) across the city onto Eccles street no7 introducing another intriguing character Leopold Bloom, Irish Jew from Hungarian family, down to earth thinker.
His wife (Odyssey’s- Penelope) also plays a big part in representing modern, liberal and quite immodest and sexual idea of an unfaithful wife of an unfaithful husband. They both seem to show their affairs as a set of natural events in marriage. The Blooms sub- conscious guilt (dual marriage life) is brought out in episode15, when after drunken night out he hallucinates.
James Joyce often references to the Bible ( Episode 4, Sodom and Gomorrah, cities of indictment that were burnt by God as a punishment). In Episode 5 Bloom thinks of an idea of guilt, confession and morality, “Confession. Everyone wants to. Then I will tell you all. Penance. I’unish me, please. Great weapon in their hands. More than doctor or solicitor. Woman dying to. (…) And why did you? Look down at her ring to find an excuse. Whispering gallery walls have ears. Husband learn to his surprise. God’s little joke. Then out she comes. (…) Lovely shame. Pray at an altar.” (ref.1)References:
1. Ulysses, James Joyce
2. Lecture week 3 and 4 History and Context of Journalism
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulysses_(novel)
