As Ulysses concludes, we are finally introduced to the perspective of Molly Bloom, a character that has been at the forefront of Stephen’s mind for the entirety of the novel. Molly’s point of view is split into eight protracted sentences, each one detailing a separate, but usually sexual preoccupation.

For most of Ulysses, Molly and her extramarital sexual affair with Boylan is tacitly evaluated by a dejected and emasculated Bloom. Because Bloom’s voice progresses much of the plot, Molly’s image as solely a cheating spouse is maintained for nearly the whole novel. It is not until the final episode that Joyce complicates this depiction of Molly by presenting her observations and ponderings.

Molly’s internal dialogue regarding sex and her former lovers is very casual and somewhat cavalier, “why can’t you kiss a man without going and marrying him first you sometimes love to wildly when you feel that way” (18 U. 102-103). At first, it appears as if Molly is perhaps as disappointing as Bloom’s discouraged introspection suggests. However, as Episode 18 further develops, Molly reveals herself to be a sympathetic character, one that has had to navigate and deal with Bloom’s often overbearing nature and idiosyncrasies.

There is a noticeable likeness between Molly’s character as described in the eight sentences of Episode 18 and the eight Beatitudes of the Gospel of Matthew. While the two writings do not totally mirror each other in content, Episode 18 does convey to the reader Molly as a more unprofane persona.

The essential message of the Beatitudes is that the meek, the merciful, and the generally righteous will inherit the Kingdom of God.  While Molly is most definitely not a chaste character, she is far from the unfeeling type Bloom’s thoughts tend to illustrate her as. The final section of Ulysses humanizes Molly instead of utilizing her as a conflict instigating conception. In Episode 18, we realize that there was once a point in which Molly did truly love Stephen, “after that long kiss I near lost my breath yes he said I was a flower of the mountain yes so we are flowers all a womens body yes that was one true thing he said in his life” (18 U. 1576-1578). It becomes apparent that Molly has resorted to wanton  extramarital affairs as a method of coping with Stephen’s bizarre behaviors and the failings of their marriage, activity that calls to mind the 2nd Beatitude, “Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”