Summary
Bloom steps into a carriage after Martin Cunningham, Jack
Power, and Simon Dedalus—they are going to Dignam’s funeral. As
the carriage begins to move, Bloom points out Stephen on the street.
Simon disapprovingly asks if Mulligan is with him. Bloom thinks
Simon is too vehement, but reasons that Simon is right to look out
for Stephen, as Bloom would have for Rudy, if he had lived.
Cunningham starts to describe his night at the pub and
then asks Dedalus if he has read Dan Dawson’s speech in this morning’s
paper. Bloom moves to take out the paper for Dedalus, but Dedalus
signals that it would be inappropriate to read it now. Bloom skims
the obituaries and checks that he still has Martha’s letter. Bloom’s
thoughts soon wander to Boylan and his upcoming afternoon visit.
At this moment, the carriage passes Boylan in the street, and the
other men salute him from the carriage. Bloom is flustered by the
coincidence. He does not understand what Molly and the others see
in Boylan. Power asks Bloom about Molly’s concert, referring to
her as Madame, which makes Bloom uncomfortable.
The carriage passes Reuben J. Dodd, a moneylender, and
the men curse him. Cunningham remarks that they have all owed money
to Dodd—except Bloom, his look implies. Bloom begins to tell a humorous
story about how Dodd’s son almost drowned, but Cunningham rudely
takes over. The men soon check their laughter and reminisce sadly
about Dignam. Bloom remarks that he died the best way, quickly and
painlessly, but the other men disagree silently—Catholics fear a
sudden death because one has no chance to repent. Power pronounces
that the worst death is a suicide and Dedalus agrees. Cunningham,
knowing that Bloom’s father committed suicide, argues for a charitable
attitude toward it. Bloom is appreciative of Cunningham’s sympathy.
The carriage stops for a cattle crossing. Bloom wonders
aloud why there is no tramline for the cattle and Cunningham agrees. Bloom
also suggests funeral trams, but the others agree only reluctantly.
Cunningham reasons that a tram would prevent hearse accidents, such
as the one recently that ended with a coffin dumped onto the road.
Bloom envisions Dignam spilling out of his coffin. The carriage
passes a water canal that runs to Mullingar, where Milly lives, and
Bloom considers visiting her. Meanwhile, Power points out the house
where the Childs fratricide, a well-known murder, took place.
The carriage arrives and the men get out. Trailing behind,
Cunningham fills Power in about Bloom’s father’s suicide. Bloom
asks Tom Kernan if Dignam was insured. Ned Lambert reports that
Cunningham is taking up a collection for the Dignam children. Bloom looks
on one of Dignam’s sons with pity. They enter the church and kneel—Bloom
last. Bloom watches the unfamiliar ceremony and thinks about the
repetitiveness of a priest’s job. The ceremony ends and the coffin
is carried outside.
As the procession passes May Dedalus’s grave, Dedalus
begins crying. Bloom thinks about the realities of death—specifically,
the failure of body organs. Corny Kelleher, the undertaker, joins
them. Ahead, John Henry Menton asks who Bloom is. Lambert explains that
he is Molly’s husband. Menton fondly recalls dancing with Molly
once, and he harshly wonders why Molly married Bloom.
