Summary
Episode Seven takes place in the Freeman newspaper
offices. New-spaper-like headlines break the episode up into smaller
passages. Without the headlines, the episode reads much the same
as previous episodes have.
In Dublin’s city-center, tramcars, postal carts, and
porter barrels simultaneously roll to their destinations. Bloom
is in the back office of the Freeman getting a
copy of his Keyes advertisement. Bloom walks through the printing
rooms to the Telegraph offices, which are under
the same ownership as the Freeman. He approaches
the foreman, City Councillor Nanetti, who is Italian by birth and
Irish by choice. Nanetti is speaking to Hynes about his report of
Dignam’s funeral. Hynes owes Bloom three shillings, and Bloom tries
to tactfully remind him about it, but Hynes does not catch on.
Over the noise of the presses, Bloom describes the new
design for the Keyes ad: two keys crossed, to evoke the independent
parliament of the Isle of Man and thus the dream of Irish home-rule. Nanetti
tells Bloom to get a copy of the design and to secure three months
advertisement from Keyes. Bloom listens for a moment to the sound
of papers shuffling through the printer, then walks toward the staff
offices. Bloom watches the men typeset backward and thinks of his
father reading Hebrew, from right to left. Bloom enters the Evening
Telegraph office, where Professor MacHugh and Simon Dedalus
are listening to Ned Lambert, who is mocking Dan Dawson’s overwrought
patriotic speech, reprinted in the morning newspaper. J.J. O’Molloy
enters and the doorknob bumps Bloom. Bloom remembers O’Molloy’s
past as a promising lawyer—O’Molloy now has money troubles.
Lambert continues to mock Dawson’s speech—Bloom agrees with
the criticism but reminds himself that such speeches are well-received
in person. Crawford enters, greeting MacHugh with mock disgust.
Dedalus and Lambert leave for a drink. Bloom uses Crawford’s telephone
to call Keyes. Lenehan enters with the sports edition and proclaims
that Sceptre will win today’s horserace. We hear Bloom on the phone—he
seems to have missed Keyes at his office. Re-entering the room,
Bloom bumps into Lenehan. Bloom tells Crawford that he is headed
out to settle the Keyes ad—Crawford could not care less. A minute
later, MacHugh notices from the window that the newsboys are following
Bloom, mimicking his jerky walk. Lenehan imitates it too.
O’Molloy offers MacHugh a cigarette. Lenehan lights their
cigarettes, waiting to be offered one. Crawford jokes with MacHugh,
a Latin professor, about the Roman Empire. Lenehan tries to tell
a riddle, but no one listens.
O’Madden Burke enters with Stephen Dedalus behind him. Stephen
hands Deasy’s letter to Crawford. Crawford knows Deasy and comments
on Deasy’s ornery late wife, which helps Stephen understand Deasy’s
view that women are responsible for the sin of the world. Crawford
skims Deasy’s letter and agrees to publish it. MacHugh is arguing
that the Greeks and the Irish are similar because they are dominated
by other cultures (Roman and British, respectively) yet retain a
spirituality that those cultures do not have. Lenehan finally tells
his riddle. Crawford comments on the gathering of many talents in
the room (literature, law, etc.). MacHugh remarks that Bloom would
represent the art of advertising, and O’Madden Burke adds that Mrs.
Bloom would add vocal talent. Lenehan makes a suggestive comment
about Molly.
