Review of Ulysses: I'm not qualified but I'll try anywayAn honest attempt to decipher Ulysses by James JoycePost #: 1345.19.2014As you all know , -if you've been following me-, I've been reading Ulysses by James Joyce for five months and, if we're honest, it hasn't been easy. Ulysses is, at first glance, a real mess. If you don't flip through guidebooks or dictionaries to understand a reference, you're hopelessly lost in a seemingly endless stream of consciousness and antiquated culture. Themes and motifs bounce throughout the pages, while the ever-changing perspectives and style almost push the reader into submerged abandon. All this literary drama and the prevailing sense of confusion has often left me wondering how on earth this book has been cited as one of the best in the English language. In a book with so many conflicting ideas, structures, perspectives, and topics, I struggled to find a real, coherent theme that could be beneficial and powerful to its reader. But, despite all of Ulysses' madness, I think I have found my answer: family. This book not only addresses religion, infidelity, and domestic autonomy, but it also has a deep underlying theme: the search for family. I find this idea extremely relevant to almost everyone reading the book, because every person, at one time or another, has struggled to define their identity within their own family unit. Some of us are fortunate to be able to define our own family roles within our biological parents, while others of us are forced to look outside the home for people who will also play the role we we need. Whether it's a friend as a brother, a teacher as a mother, or even a coach as a father, we can define our own filial identity...... middle of paper ...... choice of song. This whole book is leading up to this moment, to the union of these two men and the lifelong bond between father and son, so why doesn't something more magical happen? Why is the highlight of their meeting their half-hearted attempts to plan future meetings? Well, let me tell you. Ulysses is probably the only book that gives an accurate description of these. Their respective quests for acceptance and family seem to end with "Ithaca" in Bloom's kitchen. Bloom sees “the future” in Stephen and Stephen “the past” in Bloom. Although finally united in this moment, the two men will undoubtedly part ways, still trapped in their respective family desires. Ulysses shows that life does not always unfold like a perfect story and that the search for identity never truly ends. .“To learn, you have to be humble. But life is the great teacher. (II: 29, 406-407)