CerebralMix 2015-03-15: Ulysses Episode Eleven

In this section of Ulysses we shift from the male dominated narrative of the previous twelve episodes into a female perspective. Bloom is noticing several women on the Sandymount Strand. He watches as two of the women minister to their children, while the third, Gerty MacDowell turns her attention to him.

It’s an interesting change of affairs as Gerty does things to get Bloom’s attention, and wonders about his background. Meanwhile Bloom becomes aroused by Gerty’s actions and ends up having to relieve his arousal. This section is replete with many cliche’s of sexuality, including fireworks during the denouement of Bloom’s arousal.

While the previous episode focused on Bloom’s jealousy of Boylan and Molly, and the actions of the citizen in causing aggravation, we now have a odd twist where the perspective is changed up. And we have Bloom having an un-consumated tryst with a woman who has a lame foot. And all of this is paralleled by a rather unusual sequence in which Gerty is seen as Mary, while the participants at a nearby church appeal to the Virgin Mary.

Musically this episode focuses on the secrets within the text, the things that go unsaid an unnoticed by all in the context of the novel. Those things that are only noticed from the readers perspective.

Readings

In the past I’ve actually included the text of the poems or stories as part of the show notes. In the case of Ulysses that would be a bit on the incredibly heavy side. Instead I have produced a guide: CerebralMix Ulysses Series that provides the references that I am using, along with a show guide to the whole broadcast of this series.