Sexual Expression: Defining Joyce's CharactersJames Joyce uses sexuality throughout his works to establish an intimate and relevant connection between the reader and the characters in his works. All of Joyce's works address issues related to sexuality, which presents the idea that sexuality was of the utmost importance to him. Since sex plays an important role in human existence, it is a good way to grab the reader's attention. A significant number of characters in Ulysses and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man are motivated by sexual desire. In fact, there is so much sex in Ulysses that “early editors and critics refused to publish it because of its vulgarity; the sexuality presented in Ulysses was part of the claims that the novel was obscene” (Ivie). Sex is a wonderful way to connect the reader to the character, and Joyce has a talent for being able to take the reader directly into the sexually suggestive minds of the characters. Every character in all of Joyce's works is defined by their sexuality and is searching for a certain type of identity. It is through this idea that Joyce best describes that sexuality itself can be defined by adultery, prostitution, masturbation, and other bodily functions. .There is a clear difference between procreative sex and having sex purely for pleasure. “Hedonistic sex is an act motivated by human desire and achieved through sexual power” (Ivie). As Joyce was well aware of the human need for sex in both directions, he used it to create a bond between the reader and the characters, something in which he was extremely successful. Ulysses is centered on sexuality. Each central character can easily be connected to the term. Sex is essential to the human race in terms of procreation and also in terms of per...... middle of paper ......are both widely represented in sexuality. In a world where women are secondary to men, these two female characters were able to assert their sexual identity. Gerty and Molly's identities are largely defined by sexuality, but are not simply governed by that of men or their own. They control their strong and unique sexual identity and take advantage of their sexual powers. This source is helpful in explaining that Joyce does not often follow the ways of society. Both of these women are in control of what they want and how they act, which was unusual for women of that era. Sondergard highlights how the reader's first impressions of the two women can be overlooked. This source goes into a lot of detail about both women and how their sexuality can be looked at more closely to realize that they are extremely similar in their relationship with Bloom..