8.Lestrygonians

On the first page of this section Bloom reads the top of the throwaway and sees ‘Bloo’ and inserts and M and an E which both completes the word to spell Bloom and forms the word me. Further down he notes an ad, this is an obsession of his because he’s in the business and notices other people’s work as well. Next there is a haunting line: “Wake up in the dead of night and see him on the wall, hanging.” (151) Sleep is a powerful theme and weapon in the Odyssey that transfers to this line. Haines has a nightmare; Stephen mentions a nightmare of his own which is echoed in Aeolus “Nightmare from which you will never wake.” (137) And yet another nightmare is added to the list When Mrs. Breen speaks “Woke me up in the night, she said. Dream he had, a night mare.” (158) Later Bloom recalls Parnell and thinks: “Like a man walking in his sleep.” (165)
The image that struck me most in this chapter was the multiple references to eyes, and the descriptions of eyes that Joyce offers up. In the previous chapter (Aeolus) sight and being seen and heard are very important to Bloom who is excluded and ignored for the most part as an outsider in many respects. Here it seems that Joyce is pointing us towards sight in a very obvious way. Eyes connect various themes.

“Knew her eyes at once from her father.” (151) This reference reminded me of Shakespeare how sight functions in his plays, and also Cassandra- who saw the future but went unheard.

“His eyes sought answer from the river and saw a rowboat rock at the anchor on the treacly swells lazily it plastered board.” (153) This weaves water, death at sea, and the Lestrygonians into the mix.

“Mr. Bloom moved forward raising his troubled eyes.” (154)

“I am sure she was crossed in love by her eyes.” (155)

“-Sad to lose the old friends, Mrs. Breen’s womaneyes said melancholily.” (157)

“Let her speak. Look straight into her eyes.” (158)

“See the eye that woman gave her, passing. Cruel. The unfair sex.” (158)

“His oyster eyes staring at the postcard.” (160)

“His eyes followed the high figure in the homespun, beard and bicycle, a listening woman at his side. Coming from the vegetarian. Only weggebobbles and fruit. Don’t eat a beefsteak. If you do the eyes of that cow will pursue you through all eternity.” (165)

“His parboiled eyes.” (167)

“Flayed eyed sheep hung from the haunches,” (171)


It occurs to me that a lot of these quotations have to do with animals and women. I wonder why this might be?