Pages 196-258

Now we have left the newsroom (thank God) and are back with Bloom, walking around. He meets Mrs Breen, who has pastry crumbs on her frock, and who's eyes remind Bloom of eggs. (Everyone's eyes remind him of eggs, maybe it's got something to do with the water in Dublin). Mrs Breen is waiting for her husband, who recently had a nightmare about the ace of spades chasing him up the stairs (I wonder if that's where that band from the Young Ones got the inspiration for their song? The Ace of Spades! The Ace of Spades!). Mr Breen has also recently received an insulting postcard, inscribed only with the letters "P.O.". Apparently he is going to sue someone for ten thousand pounds about it. I'm not sure, though, I might have missed something here. I don't even know what the significance of "P.O." is, and can only guess it has something to do with Irish politics - only because Bloom then takes his leave and starts thinking a lot about Parnell (a politician) and Sinn Fein and so on, and suspects someone from the Irish Times as the sender. (I wouldn't put anything past those lads at the newsroom).

Bloom gets hungry and pops into the Burton restaurant. Unfortunately the sight of all the men eating makes him feel sick, with such quotes as "Table talk. I munched hum un thu Unchster Bunk un Munchday" and "Every fellow for his own, tooth and nail. Gulp. Grub. Gulp. Gobstuff." I think my Mum would approve of Bloom's sentiments on this matter.

He tries Davy Byrne's "moral pub" next, not sure what that means, something to do with kosherness? (Should have checked to see if the blokes at Burton's were eating meat and milk together). He orders a cheese sandwich, which he adds mustard to and cuts into fine strips. (Very significant, has anyone written a thesis on this?). He chats with Nosey Flynn, a fairly disgusting creature who keeps scratching his groin (fleas, apparently) and sniffling up "dewdrops" of "nosejam". When Bloom goes to the loo, Flynn and Byrne talk about him a bit, noting his mourning clothes and how he belongs to some elite society which allows him to stay cashed up. (I presume the Freemasons or something). Then, mysteriously, they make reference to "the one thing he'll never do" [Bloom], but unfortunately Bloom comes back then and I am left hanging, wondering what it is they mean. Eat a ham and cheese sandwich?

Bloom heads off to the Library, but on the way sees someone in a straw hat and tan shoes that makes his heart "quop" (word for the day) and who he hurries to avoid. I thought he dodged into the Museum, but maybe it was straw hat man heading that way.

In the Library, we now we return to Stephen Dedalus, who is chatting with Mr Best and John Eglington about his theories about Hamlet. I think Stephen's great theory is that Hamlet is really Shakespeare's own son, Hamnet (who died), making Hamlet's mum really Anne Hathaway, meaning that Shakespeare reckoned she was having an affair. I don't know, I could have misunderstood this whole bit. Buck Mulligan turns up again, and then Bloom comes in to ask the librarian for copies of the Freeman's Journal (aha!) and the Kilkenny People. Buck tells Stephen that Bloom known his Dad, and calls Bloom a "sheeny". I don't know what this is; perhaps all will be revealed on page 259. Perhaps Zombie Dignam will come back from the dead.

Bit to turn you to vegetarianism:
Wretched brutes there at the cattlemarket waiting for the poleaxe to split their skulls open. Moo. Poor trembling calves. Meh. Staggering bob. Bubble and squeak. Butcher's buckets wobble lights. Give us that brisket off the hook. Plup. rawhead and bloody bones. Flayed glasseyed sheep hung from their haunches, sheepsnouts bloodypapered snivelling nosejam on sawdust. Top and lashes going out. Don't maul them pieces, young one...Hot fresh blood they prescribe for decline. Blood always needed. Insidious. Lick it up, smoking hot, thick sugary... (Page 217).