Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Ulysses. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: The book ends with Molly Bloom's long interior monologue, closing with her remembering her youth and saying yes. It affirms love and life.
Quick facts
– Book: Ulysses by James Joyce
– First published: 1922
– Type: A modernist novel
– Tone of the ending: Affirming
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Leopold Bloom wanders Dublin on June 16, 1904. He meets Stephen Dedalus and takes him home.
What Happens at the End of Ulysses
After a night out, Bloom returns to bed with his wife Molly. She thinks about her lovers and about Bloom. She remembers the day he proposed. She says yes in the last words.
The Ending in Five Quick Points
- After a night out, Bloom returns to bed with his wife Molly.
- She thinks about her lovers and about Bloom.
- She remembers the day he proposed.
- She says yes in the last words.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Leopold Bloom | Returns home |
| Molly Bloom | Affirms life |
| Stephen Dedalus | Goes into the night |
What the Ending Means
The ending is the book's affirmation of life. It balances the wandering of the day.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers see Molly's yes as love, others as acceptance.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Love and fidelity. The final pages are where this idea lands hardest, and rereading the last chapters with love and fidelity in mind changes how the ending reads.
Everyday life. James Joyce uses the closing events to show what everyday life costs or achieves, rather than simply stating it.
Identity. The ending gives identity a final shape, which is why readers often point to it when they explain what the book is really about.
Stream of consciousness. Even in the last scenes, stream of consciousness keeps shaping the choices the characters make.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Ulysses as Affirming. That reaction usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected James Joyce to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Book Versus Adaptation
There are several adaptations, including the 1967 film.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Ulysses with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about love and fidelity, and do you agree with James Joyce's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- After finishing, would you describe the book as affirming, or would you choose a different word?
Discussion Prompts by Theme
- Love and fidelity: Which moment in the last chapters made love and fidelity feel most real to you, and did it change how you saw earlier scenes?
- Everyday life: How does James Joyce use the closing events to say something about everyday life, and do you agree with that view?
- Identity: If you could ask a character about identity at the very end, who would you ask, and what would you say?
- Stream of consciousness: Does the ending leave stream of consciousness resolved, or is it something that stays unsettled after the last page?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces love and fidelity and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what James Joyce leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Ulysses often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Ulysses earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
- Would you recommend Ulysses to a friend who dislikes spoilers, or to one who loves a discussion?
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Books to Read After Ulysses
- Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Related: 15 Books Like Ulysses You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Ulysses?
The book ends with Molly Bloom's long interior monologue, closing with her remembering her youth and saying yes. It affirms love and life.
Is the ending of Ulysses happy or sad?
Most readers call it Affirming.
What does the ending of Ulysses mean?
The ending is the book's affirmation of life.
Is the ending of Ulysses the same in the adaptation?
There are several adaptations, including the 1967 film.
Who should read Ulysses before reading the ending explained?
Anyone who plans to read the book, because this post gives away the whole ending.
Can I find Ulysses as an ebook or audiobook?
Most editions of Ulysses can be found in print and as an ebook, and many are also available as audiobooks. Public libraries often lend all three formats, so you can revisit the final chapters in whichever way suits you best.
What should I do after reading this guide to the ending of Ulysses?
If the ending stayed with you, reread the last few chapters with this guide in mind and look for the clues you missed the first time. You can also try one of the books suggested above, or talk the ending over with a friend or book club.