The theme of the father-son relationship is central and foundational in Ulysses. Leopold Bloom is the only son of Rudolph Virag, a Hungarian Jew who, having arrived in exile in Dublin from his native Szombathely, changes his name from Virag (‘flower’, in Hungarian) to Bloom, converts, gets married , has a son, and dies by suicide. The journey of the wandering Jew Rudolph Virag across half of Europe is detailed by Joyce in the episode ‘Ithaca’ where the text records the first memory that Bloom retains of his father.
“What first reminiscence had he of Rudolph Bloom (deceased)?
Rudolph Bloom (deceased) narrated to his son Leopold Bloom (aged 6) a retrospective arrangement of migrations and settlements in and between Dublin, London, Florence, Milan, Vienna, Budapest, Szombathely with statements of satisfaction (his grandfather having seen Maria Theresia, Empress of Austria, Queen of Hungary), with commercial advice (having taken care of pence, the pounds having taken care of themselves).”
James Joyce, Ulysses, ‘Ithaca’ 1905-1910
