James Joyce

I did not particularly enjoy Joyce's work. However, I will comment on some of what I read in Chapter 13 of Ulysses, beginning on page 1165. The main character of the story is Leopold Bloom. In this chapter three girlfriends have come to the strand to watch fireworks. On of the girls is named Gerty MacDowell. Gerty daydreams about finding someone to love her. Her two friends leave to find a better spot to view the fireworks. Leopold comes to the strand and they begin to flirt from a distance. Leopold continues to watch her from a distance but when she sees the troubled look on his face she is concerned and wonders what brings him to look gaze upon her. Her wishes of romance and marriage become more apparent as she stares at him.
All of this occurs at the beginning of the chapter which I find interesting because earlier chapter reveal that Leopold is married. However, he keeps his focus toward Gerty and she begins to entice him with her body. There is a benediction going on at the church and it ends. Everyone leaves to view the fireworks. Leopold and Gerty are the only two people in this area now.
Gerty ends up naked as a roman candle is shot into the air. I assume the rocket being shot off is referencing a penis. At this point both she and Leopold are sexually aroused. The excite themselves and she ends up leaving while he stays and meditates on what just happened. It is revealed in a later chapter that his wife committed adultery. However, that still does not make what is occurring between him and Gerty right. This chapter was extremely interesting because it had sexual content as well as religious content and at some points I did not really understand what Joyce was really trying to say. This is a book I would like to read thoroughly in order to get a better understanding.