Cissy Caffrey Character Analysis in Ulysses

In “Nausicaa,” Cissy Caffrey is Gerty MacDowell and Edy Boardman’s outgoing, energetic, fearless friend. She plays with the baby, disciplines her younger brothers Jacky and Tommy, and asks Leopold Bloom for the time after she notices him staring at Gerty. In “Circe,” she repeatedly appears with Privates Carr and Compton in nighttown, where she seems to be working as a prostitute. However, it is unclear whether she is really there or just a figment of Leopold Bloom’s imagination.

Cissy Caffrey Character Timeline in Ulysses

The timeline below shows where the character Cissy Caffrey appears in Ulysses. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Literature, Meaning, and Perspective Theme Icon

At sunset, three teenaged girls play on the rocks at Sandymount Strand. They are Cissy Caffrey, Edy Boardman, and Gerty MacDowell. Cissy’s younger twin brothers Tommy and Jacky are playing... (full context)

Tommy wants to take his ball back from Edy’s baby brother. Edy says no, but Cissy tosses Tommy the ball and starts to play with the baby to distract him. Cissy... (full context)

...sitting nearby (Bloom), who is wearing all black, catches the ball and tosses it to Cissy. It rolls over to Gerty, who tries to kick it away. At first, she misses,... (full context)

Alienation and the Quest for Belonging Theme Icon

The twins keep playing around. Cissy Caffrey plays peek-a-boo with the baby, then tells him to say “pa pa pa pa... (full context)

Religion, Atheism, and Philosophy Theme Icon

...fight over the ball, which frustrates Gerty. To stop them from running into the sea, Cissy chases after them. Gerty thinks that it would be indecent if Cissy tripped and upturned... (full context)

Cissy and Edy both notice the gentleman (Bloom) and Gerty looking at each other, and Edy... (full context)

...clearly angry and jealous about something, but she feels no sympathy for her. Edy and Cissy play with their little brothers and get them ready to leave. (full context)

Just when the benediction ends in the church, fireworks start to go off. Cissy and Edy run over with their brothers to watch, but Gerty stays back because she... (full context)

...the forgiveness in her eyes, and they both know that she won’t tell their secret. Cissy calls for Gerty to leave with them, and Gerty decides to send Bloom a message... (full context)

...life, and he wonders what it would have been like if he had chatted with Cissy when she came over to ask for the time. He remembers once mistaking a friend... (full context)

...Gerty and her friends, who are off in the distance watching fireworks. He dwells on Cissy, criticizing her appearance and noting how lovingly she treats the baby. And while he notes... (full context)

Irish Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon

Cissy Caffrey’s voice sings a lewd song, and two drunk British soldiers, Private Carr and Private... (full context)

Private Carr, Private Compton, and Cissy Caffrey pass in the street, singing the song “My Girl’s a Yorkshire Girl.” The Yorkshire-born... (full context)

Bloom finds Stephen arguing with Private Carr and Private Compton about his advances toward Cissy Caffrey. Too drunk for his own good, Stephen mocks the soldiers as they threaten to... (full context)

Bloom desperately shakes Cissy Caffrey and pleads with her to make peace between Stephen and the soldiers. But she... (full context)

...and Stephen compares him to Judas. The Old Gummy Granny tells Stephen to fight, while Cissy Caffrey tells Private Carr that she forgives Stephen for insulting her. Carr attacks Stephen anyway,... (full context)