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Ulysses · Character

Tom Kernan

A tea merchant and former commercial traveler.

minor

Also known as Tom Kernan, Kernan, Mr Kernan, Mr Thomas Kernan, Tom, Master Tommy, Tommy, tearful Tommy, Thomas Kernan, Tomgin Kernan

First appearance: vi

Tom Kernan shows up with force in V. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Bloom thinks of getting tea from him but decides not to ask at a funeral.
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In V: Bloom thinks of getting tea from him but decides not to ask at a funeral. Later, in Wandering Rocks: Mr Kernan walks through Dublin, reflecting on his appearance and past, and observes the city's landmarks and…

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See Tom Kernan in vi

Character Web

54 connections

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

SDStephen DedalusLBLeopold BloomBDBen DollardNLNed LambertMBMolly BloomTKTom Kernan

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Dublin social network
  • Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

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

Tom Kernan appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Tom Kernan in vi