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Ulysses · Character

Mrs Breen

Molly Bloom's old friend, married to the hapless Denis Breen, whose chance encounter with Bloom on the street stirs memories, gossip, and a flicker of old intimacy.

supporting

Also known as Mrs Breen, Mr and Mrs L. M. Bloom, Mr Bloom, Mrs Breen, old Bloom, L. Bloom, Mr L. Bloom, Mrs Breen Mr Bloom

First appearance: ii

As a supporting figure in Ulysses, Mrs Breen is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Mentioned as Josie Powell; Molly recalls her and other acquaintances.
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Mrs Breen buttonholes Bloom on the street with news of her husband's lawsuit and her own faded glamour, her hat flickering in the sun as she talks. She remembers Bloom from years ago, when he and Molly were young and…

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The fuller portrait of Mrs Breen sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Mrs Breen in ii

Character Web

5 connections

A slice of how Mrs Breen sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

LBLeopold BloomMBMrs BreenLYLynchPDPaddy DignamLELenehanMBMrs Breen

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Extended cast and historical figures
  • Protagonist
  • Dublin social network

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it reveals the protagonist’s psychological breaking point: his…

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In the story

Mrs Breen appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mrs Breen unlock in the free preview.

See Mrs Breen in ii
Who is Mrs Breen in Ulysses?