Ulysses · Character
Paddy Dignam
A Dublin acquaintance of Bloom whose sudden death from drink sets the day's funeral in motion and shadows the novel's morning.
supporting
Also known as Paddy Dignam, Paddy, Poor little Paddy Dignam, Poor Dignam, Dignam, Mr Patrick Dignam, Patrick Dignam, the late Mr Patrick Dignam, Mr Dignam, poor Dignam
First appearance: iv
As a supporting figure in Ulysses, Paddy Dignam is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
The deceased, whose funeral is the central event of the chapter.
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Paddy Dignam is a familiar, unremarkable man about town, the kind of friend whose death arrives as a shock precisely because he seemed so ordinary. His funeral draws Bloom, Simon Dedalus, Martin Cunningham and others…
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The fuller portrait of Paddy Dignam sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Paddy Dignam in ivCharacter Web
52 connectionsA slice of how Paddy Dignam sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Social
- Other
Character groups
- Dublin social network
- Protagonist
+47 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- 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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Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Leopold Bloom
social · positive
Paddy Dignam is a deceased acquaintance of Bloom, whose funeral Bloom attends and whose… How this plays out →
- Leopold Bloom
social · positive
Paddy Dignam is a deceased acquaintance of Bloom, whose funeral Bloom attends and whose… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Paddy Dignam in ivIn the story
Paddy Dignam appears across 3 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Paddy Dignam unlock in the free preview.
See Paddy Dignam in iv