JOYCE		LUCK CLUB
DUBLINERS	ULYSSES	THE PORTRAIT

Chapter 11 / SIRENS -The Sirens: Though I finished Sirens a couple days of ago, there is a still a question on it in my mind. The original Sirens are supposed to 'bewitch men coasting by', they are supposed to 'sing a man's mind away on their sweet meadow lolling .... promising pleasure and merriment after the perils of war and false-promising knowledge of the future to those who land on their rock'. These two barmaids in Ulysses are they really like these Sirens of Odyssey? Some flirting goes on, but nothing more. And Odysseus is supposed to have been tied to the rock, when he passed this island. And here, though not literally tied up, is there anything which suggests any kind of being tied up? I have started reading Cyclops. As to be expected I came no where when I read the first few pages without looking Gifford or anybody else. I had thought that Bloom was the I. :-( And then I just glanced through Gifford and Campbell. The first sentence in Campbell is the following: "Then comes a great work: the Cyclops chapter...." How about more of you joining the discussion? Then reading this 'great' chapter could become a real pleasure. (Bob, it does not mean that I do not enjoy the discussions with you. You know that, don't you?) Chandra I too wish that more members would join the discussion but I have noticed in my experience with lists that only about 2% participate. I wonder why this is. Bloom is detained by the songsters at the Ormond and Mina and Lydia are not the only sirens. Lydia is a failure as a siren. She tries to detain Boylan who takes off for his assignation with Molly. The most effective sirens are not at the Ormond. Note how much thought Bloom gives to Molly and to Martha Clifford. The men in the concert room devote some time to discussing Molly. In fact, there is even a hint that Simon has second thoughts about his caustic reflections on Molly when he learns that Bloom was in the restaurant and could have overheard. Best Bob About Sirens: I don't know what to say. Except to say that once I finish reading Ulysses I may have to start all over again. Your hint that the most effective Sirens are not at Ormond changes the whole perspective I had about this chapter. You know, after being almost half way through the book, I still do not know how best to approach this book. !! Chandra Top! HOME!