The Citizen (character)

The Citizen is a fictional character in James Joyce's novel Ulysses. He is an old Irish nationalist with xenophobic and anti-semitic views who engages in an argument with Leopold Bloom in Barney Kiernan's pub, ultimately throwing a biscuit tin at Bloom. He also appears in Stephen Hero, described as very stout, black-bearded, always wearing a wideawake hat and a long bright green muffler, with "the voice of an ox... he could be heard at a great distance, criticising, denouncing and scoffing."[1]

This article is about the fictional character. For other uses, see The Citizen.

The Citizen
First appearanceUlysses (1922)
Created byJames Joyce
In-universe information
GenderMale
Occupationunclear, possibly retired
ReligionCatholic
NationalityIrish
Portrait of Michael Cusack, on whom The Citizen is based.

"The Citizen" is an important figure in the "Cyclops" episode of the novel. The character has been described as having characteristics not only of the mythological Cyclops, Polyphemus but also of the Irish epic figure Finn McCool.[2] "The Citizen" is, in part, a satirical portrait of Irish nationalist (and Gaelic Athletic Association founder) Michael Cusack (1847–1906)[3] and Joyce's portrayal operates to expose what one critic called the "xenophobic ideologies of radical Celticists".[4]

See also

Sources
  1. Stephen Hero, Chapter 17
  2. Maureen Waters, The Comic Irishman (SUNY Press, 1984), ISBN 978-0873957663, pp. 97ff. Excerpts available at Google Books.
  3. Sen Moran, "Cusack's creation is a blooming legacy", The Irish Times, June 16, 2004  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .
  4. Vincent J. Cheng, Joyce, Race, and Empire (Cambridge University Press, 1995), ISBN 978-0521478595, pp. 198ff. Excerpts available at Google Books.
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