This is a suggestion for a Jewish schema for Ulysses based upon the structure of the main Jewish prayer, the Amida, or the Eighteen (so called as it was composed of eighteen blessings originally). As will be seen below I have found some thematic correspondence between several of the blessings and the relevant chapter in Ulysses. The three—twelve (plus one)—three structure of both the prayer and the book itself is what invites comparison. I have found one-to-one correspondence in the seventh and twelfth chapters (links in the table). More glancing connections, or off-center connections are labeled “work in progress” and some of these I may not bring to print if in the end I do not find them convincing. It is important to note that Joyce was a playful, humorous writer, and that the usefulness of these schemas for understanding Ulysses is questionable at best. But it is fun, and that is a gift from Joyce.
Name of Blessing || Linati Title || Status
Forefathers || Telemachus || No Suggestion
Divine Might || Nestor || No Suggestion
Divine Sanctification|| Proteus || No Suggestion
Understanding || Calypso || Work in Progress
Penitence || Lotus Eaters || Work in Progress
Pardon || Hades || No Suggestion
Redemption || Aeolus|| “A Pisgah Sight of Palestine”
Healing || Lestrygonians || No Suggestion
Prosperity || Scylla and Charybdis || No Suggestion
Deliverance || Wandering Rocks || Work in Progress
Righteous Judgment || Sirens|| No Suggestion
Divine Retribution || Cyclops|| The “Antisemitism” of Ulysses
Righteous Scholars || Nausicaa || No Suggestion
Jerusalem || Oxen of the Sun || No Suggestion
Salvation || Circe || Leopold Bloom and Hope
Acceptance || No Suggestion
Return Of Divine Service || Eumaeus || No Suggestion
Thanksgiving || Ithaca || No Suggestion
Peace || Penelope || No Suggestion
Very interesting comment on this over at Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/jamesjoyce/comments/13ulblt/comment/jm44i11/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3