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Chapter 6 Of Ulysses Symbolism

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Symbolism. Religious dimension and imagery
Since the main event of chapter 6 of Ulysses is Paddy Dignam’s funeral, there are plenty of religious references from Catholicism, but also from Judaism and even Hinduism.
The text is full of Catholic references. For example, when Leopold Bloom was telling the story of Reuben J. and his son, Mr Dedalus says “Drown Barabbas!”. Barabbas was the thief who was released in place of Jesus, as told in Matthew 27:20.
There are also mentions to religious texts, Catholic customs, and so on. For example, an aphorism from The Book of Common Prayer appears in the text when Martin Cunningham says “in the midst of life” after encountering the procession following the coffin of a dead child. Another reference to this text appears when Leopold Bloom is wandering amongst the tombstones in the graveyard (“Ashes to ashes.”).
“The Lord’s …show more content…

Hoping you 're well and not in hell. Nice change of air. Out of the fryingpan of life into the fire of purgatory.”, and also “All souls’ day.” The former reference has to do with the notion of “purgatory”: Catholics believe that there is a previous stage after dying and before being sent to hell or heaven. To help the dead’s soul reach heaven, Catholics have to pray for it. All souls’ day is a festivity that commemorates the faithful departed people, especially relatives. It takes place on 2 November.
Since Leopold Bloom was Jewish but converted to Catholicism, there are also references to this religion. For example, when the carriage passes a Jewish man Martin Cunningham says to Mr Power “Of the tribe of Reuben (...)”. This is an allusion to the eldest son of Jacob and Leah, who was the founder and patriarch of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This term was also used to make reference to Jewish people.
However, anti-Semitism appears in this chapter most of the times something Jewish comes

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