Poor little Rudy

In Calypso Bloom's thoughts of the recent death of "poor Dignam" run in tandem with reflections on the death ten years earlier of "poor little Rudy." The loss of his infant son Rudolph only 11 days after birth is more than a source of continuing grief to Bloom. It is also the most significant factor in the sexual dysfunction that is imperiling his marriage. His inability to perform in bed seems to stem not only from a desire to avoid the trauma of further loss, but also from a feeling that he was somehow responsible for Rudy's failure to thrive.

John Hunt 2017

Victorian postmortem photograph of infant in coffin. Source: www.pinterest.com.

Victorian postmortem photograph of siblings in coffin. Source: www.pinterest.com.