Faubourg Saint Patrice - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

of final atonement and the sacrament of Extreme Unction22. As Budgen relates:
"[Bloom's] commonsense paganism shocks their religious prejudice" (87). His sympathy
for the suffering of others is in stark contrast to his companions' subsequent discussion
on suicide. Stimulated by the poignant sight of a child's funeral procession, Mr. Power
relates: "But the worst of all. . . is the man who takes his own life. . . The greatest
disgrace to have in the family" (6.335-8). Given his own father's suicide, Bloom is
especially sensitive to these comments, and he reflects on the cruel and absurd treatment
of the suicide: "They have no mercy on that here or infanticide. Refuse christian burial.
They used to drive a stake of wood through his heart in the grave. As if it wasn't broken
already" (6.345-8). Considered guilty of a mortal sin in Catholic doctrine, suicides are
indeed denied a Christian burial if they were sane during the commission of the act
(Catholic 14:326-7). Indeed, Bloom's more secular concern for the mental anguish
which precedes suicide and his empathy for the physical and emotional suffering of
others provides a stark contrast to the apparent callousness of some of the traditions
which are introduced in this episode--a callousness seemingly embraced by his Catholic
companions.
Similar to his observations during the Catholic mass in "Lotus Eaters," Bloom
then contemplates ornate but, for him, meaningless funeral ceremonies: "Paltry funeral:
coach and three carriages. It's all the same. Pallbearers, gold reins, requiem mass, firing
a volley. Pomp of death" (6.499); "Makes them feel more important being prayed over
in Latin" (6.602); "Said he was going to paradise...Says that over everybody" (6.621).
While the priest's words appear to comfort the survivors, Bloom's pragmatism causes
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