Leopold is a 38-year-old advertising canvasser of Jewish descent living in Dublin. He lives as an outsider in his own city, frequently subjected to prejudice and isolation from his peers. Haunted by the suicide of his father and the death of his infant son, Rudy, he walks the streets avoiding the reality of his wife's afternoon affair. Despite the heavy burdens of grief and social exclusion, he remains observant and empathetic toward others.

Stephen is a 22-year-old aspiring poet and history teacher at a boys' school. Recently returned from studying in Paris, he wears mourning clothes and harbors deep guilt over his refusal to pray at his mother's deathbed. He uses complex literary theories to shield himself from his emotional pain and his impoverished family.

Raised in Gibraltar by a military father, Molly is a professional singer and Leopold's wife. She has a worldly personality and feels frustrated by her husband's odd habits and the distance between them since the loss of their infant son. Desiring affection and physical connection, she engages in affairs while remaining central to Leopold's thoughts.

Boylan is a charismatic, confident concert tour organizer in Dublin. He stands in direct contrast to Leopold Bloom, displaying a coarse but self-assured masculinity that wins him social approval. He organizes Molly's upcoming singing tour while also engaging in an affair with her.

A medical student who shares a residence with Stephen Dedalus. Mulligan is boisterous and highly critical of Stephen's serious demeanor. He frequently mocks religion and Stephen's grief, viewing himself as a vibrant force in modern Irish culture.

Stephen's father, known around Dublin for his excellent singing voice and his precarious financial situation. He spends much of his day socializing in pubs and avoiding his debts, leaving his daughters impoverished while he maintains a jovial public face.

A young woman who watches the children on Sandymount beach. She is highly conscious of her physical appearance, maintaining a romanticized view of the world influenced by magazines. She notices Leopold Bloom watching her and leans into the attention.

A loud, aggressive Irish nationalist who spends his day drinking in Barney Kiernan's pub. He holds a deeply xenophobic and exclusionary view of Irish identity, leading to a direct confrontation with Leopold Bloom over nationality and violence.

A woman who responds to an advertisement placed by Leopold Bloom under the pseudonym Henry Flower. She exchanges flirtatious letters with him, though they never meet in person.

One of Stephen's younger sisters. She wanders Dublin in worn clothes, trying to secure basic funds from her father to feed herself and her siblings. She retains a desire for education, buying a French primer despite her poverty.

A young English student staying with Stephen and Mulligan at the Martello Tower. He takes an academic interest in Irish folklore and Stephen's intellectual sayings but remains completely blind to the historical oppression of the Irish people.

The headmaster of the boys' school where Stephen teaches. Deasy is a fiercely pro-British Protestant with rigid, narrow-minded views on history and economics. He frequently voices bigoted opinions, particularly concerning women and Jewish people.

The 15-year-old daughter of Leopold and Molly Bloom. She works at a photography studio in Mullingar, representing a bridge between her parents' past happiness and their current estrangement.

A sympathetic friend of Leopold Bloom who attends Paddy Dignam's funeral. He demonstrates compassion toward Bloom's family history of suicide and helps raise funds for the Dignam orphans.

An old girlfriend of Leopold Bloom who is now married to the eccentric Denis Breen. She maintains a fond, friendly connection with Bloom when they encounter each other on the street.

Josie's husband, considered eccentric and mentally unstable by many in Dublin. He wanders the city seeking legal representation after receiving an insulting postcard.

A recently deceased Dubliner whose funeral brings together various men from the city, including Leopold Bloom. His sudden death leaves his family struggling financially.

A friend of Buck Mulligan who plans to enlist in the military. He is currently courting the young Milly Bloom in Mullingar.

A worker at Bella Cohen's brothel in Dublin. She intercepts Leopold Bloom on the street and brings him inside, reading his palm and prompting his deep internal anxieties.

The imposing owner of the brothel visited by Stephen and Bloom. In Bloom's exhausted, alcohol-fueled imagination, she transforms into a domineering figure who ruthlessly interrogates his insecurities.

A British soldier stationed in Dublin. He takes offense to Stephen's drunken ranting about the King and the church, leading to a physical altercation.

The proprietor of a late-night cab stand. Local rumor suggests he was the getaway driver in the infamous Phoenix Park Murders, placing him adjacent to significant Irish history.

A sailor who stops at the cab stand late at night. He shares tall tales of his travels and shows off tattoos to the gathered men, representing the adventurous life Bloom sometimes dreams of.

A friend of Gerty MacDowell. She acts in a loud, boisterous manner that Gerty considers unladylike, particularly when men are present.

Another young woman watching children at Sandymount beach. She joins Cissy in loudly managing the bickering infants.