Interior Monologue In James Joyce's Ulysses

James Joyce’s Ulysses is widely recognised and celebrated as being one of the most influential works of literature, and was previously described as “a demonstration and summation of the entire [modernist] movement” by Beebe in 1971. Throughout the over 700 page “epic”, Joyce follows a day in the life of numerous Dubliners such as Stephen Dedalus (whom we may have first encountered in Joyce’s earlier novel; A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man), and advertising campaigner Leopold Bloom, along with many others. Due to the vast array of characters and their associated perspectives, we are subjected to Joyce’s infamous use of “interior monologue”, resulting in what undoubtedly becomes somewhat of a chaotic (and notoriously difficult to read)

While this may be true, one cannot help but feel sceptical of this analysis. – NOT REALLY RELEVANT TO QUESTION AND DOESN’T ADD ANYTHING That being said, one cannot disagree that Joyce is one of very few authors to have successfully used the “stream of consciousness” technique to his advantage, allowing the reader further insight into the development of his characters by exposing us to their thoughts, life and psychology throughout. We bear witness to the inner conversations of Bloom as he makes his way through the city of Dublin, reflecting upon life, death, love and humanity, while Stephen mulls over philosophy, family and art, and to Molly’s internal monologue regarding her own personal life. It has been argued that Ulysses is the first novel in which “the activity of thought is the central concern and determining influence on form”, and Joyce’s focus and use of the “stream of consciousness” technique in my opinion, supports this

The final “episode” of Ulysses, often referred to as “Molly Bloom’s Soliloquy”, introduces us to the interior monologue of Leopold Bloom’s wife Molly as they lay in bed. Following Molly’s acceptance of Leopold into bed, the episode details Molly’s thoughts which are often broken due to numerous distractions. Throughout the passage, Molly reflects on her frets and contemplates on her career as an opera singer, her childhood in Gibraltar, her past lovers and admirers, and on her relationships with both her husband, Leopold Bloom and her lover and concert manager, Blazes Boylan. The passage ends and concludes the novel as Molly recounts Leopold’s proposal to her and her acceptance of engagement; “and then he asked me would I say yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes… and yes I said yes I will Yes…”. This soliloquy presents Molly’s views which are often in contrast with the other two narrators of the novel, NAME THEM HERE. The use of the “stream of consciousness” technique is clearly vital to the portrayal of the character of Molly, providing us with a much needed insight into her thoughts and point of view. In my opinion, it’s interesting that Joyce decided to conclude Ulysses through Molly’s eyes for two primary reasons. Firstly, as Booker outlined in the essay History is to Blame (SHOULD THAT HAVE QUOTATION