Ulysses - Chapter 14
Bloom followed Stephen into Nighttown, Dublin's red-light district. The streets were alive with prostitutes, sailors, soldiers, and all manner of nighttime characters. Gas lamps cast eerie shadows, and music spilled from brothels and pubs.
Stephen was very drunk now, barely able to walk straight. He argued with his companions about money, about art, about everything and nothing. Bloom stayed close, worried that Stephen would get into trouble or be robbed.
Hallucinations began to plague Bloom's mind. He saw his dead father appear, reproaching him for abandoning Jewish traditions. His mother materialized, weeping over his choices. The ghosts of his past surrounded him, demanding explanations and apologies.
Stephen entered a brothel, and Bloom followed reluctantly. Inside, the madam Bella Cohen presided over a surreal scene of debauchery and fantasy. The boundaries between reality and imagination blurred completely.
Bloom's hallucinations intensified. He imagined himself transformed into a woman, then crowned as mayor of Dublin, then put on trial for various crimes. His deepest fears and secret desires played out in vivid, disturbing scenes.
Stephen saw visions of his dead mother, her ghost rising to condemn him for his lack of faith. He struck out wildly with his walking stick, smashing a chandelier and crying out in anguish. The brothel erupted in chaos.
Bloom paid for the damage and helped Stephen outside. The young man was in bad shape, emotionally and physically devastated. Bloom felt his protective instincts strengthen. He would see Stephen safely home, would make sure no harm came to him.
The night had become a nightmare, but Bloom persevered. His odyssey was not yet complete.