Ulysses/Calypso

Chapter 4 Calypso

Summary

Calypso is the chapter that introduces the reader to Mr. Leopold Bloom. The chapter mixes narration with internal monologue in a way that's hard to untangle.

The chapter starts out with Mr. Bloom in his kitchen. He feeds the cat, then slips out to get something to eat for breakfast. When he comes back, he interacts with his wife, eats breakfast, reads a letter, pinches one off, and prepares to set off for his adventure.

In this chapter we really enter Mr. Bloom's thoughts

"His hand took his hat from the peg over his initialled heavy overcoat and his lost property office secondhand waterproof. Stamps: stickyback pictures. Daresay lots of officers are in the swim too. Course they do. The sweated legend in the crown of his hat told him mutely: Plasto’s high grade ha. He peeped quickly inside the leather headband. White slip of paper. Quite safe."

On the doorstep he felt in his hip pocket for the latchkey. Not there. In the trousers I left off. Must get it. Potato I have. Creaky wardrobe. No use disturbing her. She turned over sleepily that time. He pulled the halldoor to after him very quietly, more, till the footleaf dropped gently over the threshold, a limp lid. Looked shut. All right till I come back anyhow.

17 references to potatoes (symbol of Jewish mourning, and Bloom attends a funeral; symbol of exchange of sexual affection; Ireland's staple food; taking the impression of a latch key, so he doesn't disturb his sleeping wife).

"She turned over sleepily that time." Replaying a memory.

Themes

Onomotopeia - the cat's "Mrkrgnao!"

Phallic symbols and masculinity

The illicit affair:

• Molly and Leopold
• Letter from Blazes Boylan
• Jingles/jingling - Boylan - Chapter 11
• Fruits - fruit shop - Chapter 10

Forgotten key

• Full circle in Chapter 17

Going for a walk

• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• (Chapter 6)
• Chapter 8