The oxen of the son chapter dances around the literary concept of the “Eternal Woman”. As with other great works of literature (such as Faust!) Ulysses perceives the woman as embodying the creative force. As we discussed in class, the different uses of style and technique in this chapter as are parallel or in some analogous relationship to the stages of childbirth. This is a very interesting idea, especially if you think about Steven and Bloom. Both characters have forsaken their woman. In the case of Steven: his mother. In the case of Bloom: Molly. But also, it may be argued that their forsaking of their “Eternal Woman” is the cause of their literary impotence.

Look at the connections between Stevens mother and the reason Steven, as Buck Mulligan says, cannot or has not become a poet. Steven, as Buck Mulligan says, is incapable of fulfilling his literary destiny because he is to strung up on religion. In other words, Steven cannot deal with either the guilt of being an atheist or the contradictions of being a believer. For whatever reason, Steven would not pray for his mother at her death bed. He did not pray because he didn’t believe it would help, not because he hated his mother. But as in so many cases Buck Mulligan is correct and Steven has become detached from his creative force because of his religious problems. Essentially, Steven’s mother is the manifestation of Steven’s creative force, which he forsook by not praying for her at her death bed.