In tracking the narrative paths of both Stephen and Bloom over the course of the novel, I found it notable that in Circe, particularly in the final scene, both men finally exist together within the same narrative and physical space.

After being totally emasculated by his hallucinatory interactions with Bello in the second half of the episode, Bloom reclaims his masculinity in the “real time” narrative by taking on a father-like role toward Stephen at the end of the episode. Bloom’s paternalistic instincts lead him care for Stephen, and he “(undoes the buttons of Stephen’s waistcoat) To breathe” (l. 4936), and caring for Stephen leads him to hallucinate an image of his own son (“Rudy!” [l. 4961]). Bloom appears quite powerful at the conclusion of the episode as he “stands erect … holding the hat and ashplant” (l. 4945). Bloom’s masculinity seems to be in part fueled by the possession of the physical ashplant – “the ashplant marks his stride” as he leads the “pack of bloodhounds” (l. 4328) – implying that Bloom’s masculine identity is materially dependent on Stephen’s presence.

While in previous chapters Stephen’s and Bloom’s narratives have been relatively distinct, here we see their identities start to become connected and balance each other out when their paths meet. Stephen’s mother is “beastly dead” (l. 4170), we know from her “emaciated” (l. 4157) spirit that rises through the floor, and Bloom’s son Rudy is dead as well. It seems that, in this final scene, Stephen and Bloom balance each other out by each fulfilling the role of the missing person in their lives, Bloom as Parent and Stephen as Son.