Top 7 Minor Characters in James Joyce's "Ulysses"

Having finally finished school for the semester, I would like to also finish out my "lists on a theme of one of my classes" by highlighting some of the smaller characters in James Joyce's intricate masterpiece of Dublin life, Ulysses.  Joyce's world is so fully-imagined that he often had full conceptions of characters of characters who are quite tangential to the main plot of the work.  Here is a look at some of my favorites.

7. Richie Goulding

Richie Goulding is the man who eats lunch at the Ormund Hotel with the protagonist Leopold Bloom.

6. Reggie Wylie

Reggie Wylie is the former boyfriend of Gertie MacDowell, who exposes herself on the beach to the protagonist Leopold Bloom.

5. Mrs. Mastiansky

Mrs. Mastiansky is the spouse of Mr. Mastiansky, whose sexual practices are discussed in a monologue of Molly Bloom, who is the wife of the protagonist Leopold Bloom.

4. Corey MacGee

Corey MacGee is estranged uncle of Andrew MacGee, who once courted Lily Gerber, who is the former owner of the chickadee named Davey Blondo, which has an imagined dialogue with the protagonist Leopold Bloom

3. Jim Cordoba

Jim Cordoba is the personal sous chef for Chef Barney Blago, who utters a curse upon God under the roof of Joanna Corleone, who once invalidated the checks of Jennifer Barf, who, before her sexual reassignment surgery, once had a gay relationship with Stephen Dedalus, who is the spiritual son of the protagonist Leopold Bloom.

2. Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon starred in Flatliners with Oliver Platt, who is the grandson of Kevin Platt, who came under scrutiny by the board of Dublin correctional facility director Jason Chilam, who threw his Bat Mitzvah at the house of Benny Goodman, who caught a bad cold due to a window left open by Gary Gygax, who created the favorite game of the protagonist Leopold Bloom.

1. Peter Mende-Siedlecki

Peter Mende-Siedlecki writes a list blog with Rob Trump, who, unknown to him, is the bastard nephew of Donald Trump, who once delivered the baby of Goody Proctor, who ate the entire apple inside a worm named Lowly Worm, who reversed the spin of the world with a super-cape made for him by Garth Brooks, who once dueted with Al Jolson, who is, in fact, a pseudonym of the protagonist Leopold Bloom.

Top 12 Similarities Between Adrian Peterson and Me

Back in September, Rob wrote a neat little list about why he and BJ Novak should be good friends. This list stemmed from a frank g-chat conversation about our man-crushes. Though originally my list had been limited to Paul Rudd and Donald Barthelme, I must be honest with myself and include Adrian Peterson, starting running back for the Minnesota Vikings, as well. While I'm not so presumptuous as to suggest that AP and I should be best friends (since he's all the times busy carrying the Minnesota Vikings on his back), I think it is important to point out the following similarities!

12. Adrian Peterson and I are both 23.

We're off to a great start!

11. Adrian Peterson's last name is Peterson.

My name is Peter and I am someone's son!

10. Adrian Peterson left college after his junior year.

I could have graduated in three also, but I was too lazy to fit in Music Hum.

9. In college, Adrian Peterson was a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.

In high school, I was a runner-up for the Outstanding Senior Award. Though Adrian Peterson no longer holds a grudge, my venomous rage is still brewing after all these years.

8. Once, Mel Kiper Jr. said of Adrian Peterson: "You can make the argument, [Peterson] is the best player in this draft, if not, certainly one of the top three."

Once, Mel Kiper Jr. said of me: "Oh no, [that kid] is knocking at my door again--I bet he wants to see my Big Board."

7. After being drafted, Adrian Peterson said, "I want to be the best player to ever play this game."

As a lifelong Vikings fan, I have to agree--I want him to be the best player, too.

6. Eight games into his career, Adrian Peterson set the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game, with 296.

Eight days into my career, I'd set the lab record for high fives.

5. Adrian Peterson wears an Adrian Peterson jersey EVERY Sunday.

Earlier this year, I bought an Adrian Peterson jersey. I wear it most Sundays.

4. Adrian Peterson has rushed for 1,015 yards so far this year.

I am all the times rushing everywhere. There's so much to do!

3. Adrian Peterson's nickname is All Day, though he is sometimes called The Purple Jesus.

My nickname is Pete, though I am sometimes called Petey. Adrian Peterson and I both have nicknames.

2. Last week, Adrian Peterson scored the game winning touchdown against the Packers.

I've scored many game-winning touchdowns in no-holds-barred, trick-play-laden, snow-means-we-can-play-tackle sandlot football games.

1. Here is a picture of Adrian Peterson.

Here is a picture of me.