—A nation? says Bloom. A nation is the
same people living in the same place.
(See Important Quotations Explained)
Summary
An unnamed, first-person narrator describes the events
of his afternoon. In addition to the first-person narration, the
episode contains over thirty passages in prose that parody—through
hyperbole—Irish mythology, legal jargon, journalism, and the Bible,
among other things.
The narrator meets Joe Hynes on the street, and agrees
to get a drink at Barney Kiernan’s pub so Hynes can tell the citizen
about the foot-and-mouth disease cattle meeting. A passage in the
style of old Celtic sagas describes the marketplace they walk past
as a land of plenty. Arriving at the pub, they greet the citizen
and his dog, Garryowen. The citizen is described at length, mock-heroically.
Alf Bergan enters, laughing at Denis Breen, who is walking
by outside with his wife. Bergan tells the story of Breen’s “U.p:
up” postcard and orders a Guinness from the bartender. The beverage
is lovingly described. The citizen notices Bloom pacing outside
and wonders with hostility what he is doing—he refers to Bloom as
a freemason.
Talk switches to Paddy Dignam. A seance at which Dignam’s soul
appears is described. Bob Doran (a character from Dubliners) rails
loudly at the cruelty of God to take Dignam away. The narrator disgustedly
notes that Doran is on his annual drinking binge.
Bloom enters—he is supposed to meet Martin Cunningham. Hynes
tries to buy Bloom a drink, but Bloom politely refuses. The subject
of hangings is raised, and Bloom speaks pedantically about capital
punishment. The citizen dominates the conversation, recalling hanged
Irish nationalists. The narrator watches Bloom and thinks scornfully
of Molly—the narrator knows a fair amount about the Blooms, thanks
to Pisser Burke, who has a connection to them. Bloom is trying to
make a fine point about hangings, but the citizen interrupts him
with narrow-minded nationalistic sentiments. A passage of journalistic
prose describes the public spectacle of a martyr’s hanging.
Hynes orders another round. The narrator is bitter that
Bloom will not drink nor buy rounds. Bloom explains he is meeting
Cunningham to visit Mrs. Dignam. Bloom launches into an explanation of
the insurance complexities.
