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Ulysses · Character

The Citizen

A hulking, one-eyed Irish nationalist in Barney Kiernan's pub whose snarling patriotism turns Bloom into the target of the day's ugliest scene.

supporting

Also known as the Erin, Erin, The Citizen Erin

First appearance: xi

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

Aggressively nationalist, hostile toward Bloom, and engages in anti-Semitic rhetoric.
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The Citizen embodies a fierce, exclusionary nationalism, holding court in the pub with his dog Garryowen and a circle of nodding drinkers. His grievance is real, but his rage curdles into antisemitic venom when Bloom…

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See The Citizen in xi

Character Web

54 connections

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

JHJoe HynesLBLeopold BloomABAlf BerganMCMartin Cunning…LYLynchTCThe Citizen

Relationship types

  • Friendship
  • Other

Character groups

  • Dublin social network
  • Protagonist

+49 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.

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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Relationships

Relationship notes

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See The Citizen in xi

In the story

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

Chapter companion notes

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See The Citizen in xi