In class, we discussed the episode one of Ulysses: Telemachus and its impact on the novel as a whole. One thing that I found interesting was that one can travel through the city of Dublin according to the locations and events in the book. Apparently, James Joyce was very meticulous and deliberate about what he wrote and everything has a meaning and a purpose if it is present in his writing. I learned that the book Ulysses is a mock/parody of the Odyssey. For one thing the main character, Steven Dedalus has a Greek name that references to Daedalus, Icarus’ father. I also learned more about Joyce’s inventive writing style. He made something new with his writing. Through his work, one can definitely see a consciousness and a shift from traditional writing.

Today, the 16th of June was also the Bloomsday celebration. It celebrates June 16th, 1904, a day depicted in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses and is names after the central character in the story, Leopold Bloom. We traveled to Sandycove and saw many Bloomsday celebrators donning straw hats with black sashes, three piece suites, and long dresses. We visited the tower where Joyce had last stayed before he had left Ireland. There was a reading of the Ulysses going taking place on the roof top. The reader put so much life into the words and similar to No’s Knife gave meaning to what can sometimes seem like meaningless words.

After that, we enjoyed the scenery and watching the local festivities of Bloomsday.