Leopold Bloom is the protagonist of James Joyce's novel "Ulysses." He is Irish. He is a Jew. He lives in Dublin, Ireland. It is June 16, 1904. We, as readers, have known him for only that one day. However, we know not only what he says, but many of his thoughts, as well. Joyce called knowing a character's thoughts, Interior Monologue, but some people prefer the term, Stream of Consciousness. This provides the reader with a depth of understanding of the characters. The book has eighteen episodes and these episodes have as analogies the episodes of Homer's "Odyssey." Bloom was known for his sense of sympathy and for his sense of empathy. These are the subject of this piece.The first of these scenes is from the "Lestrygonians" episode of "Ulysses." 

Bloom had lunch at Davy Byrne's Pub. He had conversations with Davy Byrne and  Nosy Flynn and just as he was about to leave, acquaintances,  Paddy Leonard, Bantam Lyons, and Tom Rochford came in. Bloom had a cheese sandwich, Gorgonzola, and a glass of burgundy for lunch. After lunch, Bloom walked towards Dawson Street. 

As Bloom nears Dawson Street, he sees a blind stripling tapping the curbstone with his cane. 

The following presents Bloom's interaction with the blind young man as he helps him cross the street:

Bloom thought, "No tram in sight. Wants to cross."  

"Do you want to cross?" Bloom asked.

You're in Dawson Street, “Mr. Bloom said "Molesworth Street is opposite. Do you want to cross? There's nothing in the way.”

"There's a van there, Mr. Bloom said, but it's not moving. I'll see you across. Do you want to go to Molesworth Street? "

Yes," the stripping answered. "South Frederick Street."
"Come," Mr. Bloom said. (He touched the thin elbow gently, then took the limp seeing hand to guide it forward.)

Bloom thinks, "Say something to him. Better not do the condescending. They mistrust what you tell them. Pass a common remark."

Bloom says, "The rain kept off." No answer.

Bloom thinks, "Stains on his coat. Slobbers his food, I suppose. Tastes all different from him. Have to be spoonfed first. Like a child's hand, his hand. Sensitive. Sizing me up I daresay from my hand. Wonder if he has a name." 

The blind man says, "Thanks, sir."

Bloom thinks, "Knows I'm a man. Voice."

Bloom says, "Right now? First, turn to the left."
 (The blind stripling tapped the curbstone and went on his way,  drawing his cane back, feeling again.)

Bloom thinks, "Queer idea of  ​​Dublin he must have, tapping his way round by the stones." 

The reader is witness to Bloom noticing the blind stripling and then stopping to help him cross the street. This is the first act in his caring response. Empathy is sensing what another person is experiencing and then doing what is called for given the circumstances. Bloom touched his elbow gently, as he said, "Come" and then took his hand and guides it forward. Bloom wants to help but he wants to do so without being "condescending." He thinks if he makes a "common remark" it is less likely to seem condescending so he says,  During the scene, Bloom gives several directions and a warning "There's a van there" and in the end, "The blind stripling tapped the curbstone and went on his way, drawing his cane back, " The rain kept off.  "  The essence of Bloom's empathy stems from his awareness of the blind man's needs, while at the same time being aware of his  feelings . 

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This is another scene from the "Lestrygonians" episode.Bloom is on his way to lunch when he sees one of the Dedalus' daughters (Dilly) in a moment that epitomizes the abject poverty of the Dedalus family. His observations trigger sympathetic thoughts.

"From Butler's monument house corner, he glanced along Bachelor's  walk. Dedalus' daughter there still outside Dillon's auctionrooms. Must be selling off some old furniture.Know her eyes at once from the  father. Lobbing about waiting for him. Home always breaks up when  the mother goes."

Bloom ruminates on the dogma of the Catholic Church and how it is a cause of the very large Dedalus family. He also thinks of the priest who lives in comfort yet won't give the poor woman the confession, the absolution, she seeks. Bloom looks closely and sees how raggedy Dilly's clothes are and how undernourished she is.

"Good Lord, that poor child's dress is in flitters. Underfed she looks  too. Potatoes and margin, margin and potatoes. It's after they feel it.  Proof of the pudding. Undermines the constitution."

Bloom has feelings of pity and sorrow for Dilly's poverty-stricken circumstances. He is deeply sympathetic to the Dedalus family's financial difficulties and the dire situation it puts them in.

***

"Dignam, Mr. Bloom said. An old friend of mine. He died quite suddenly, poor fellow. Heart trouble, I believe. Funeral was this morning."

Bloom refuses an offer by Joe of another drink in the "Cyclops" episode because he is going to be giving Mrs. Dignam financial advice soon.

"Thank you, no, offer by Joe Bloom. As a matter of fact, I just wanted to meet Martin Cunningham, don't you see, about this insurance of poor Dignam's. Martin asked me to go to the house. You see, he, Dignam, I mean, didn't serve any notice of the assignment on the company at the time, and nominally under the act the mortgagee can't recover on the policy."