In many ways, then, Boylan is a humorous self-parody, a Dublin Priapus. He flirts with the (not unwilling) bargirls in the Ormond Hotel just before he leaves to see Molly, and the expression associated with him, "Cockcarracarra," signals both his sexual capacities and his conscienceless betrayal of human emotions. And Joyce suggests that, even after experiencing (possibly) four sexual climaxes with Molly, Boylan may be the man who, having lost on the Gold Cup Race, has come to Nighttown in "Circe" to find a prostitute.
Nor does Boylan make any attempt to cover up his deeds, even though he does know Bloom personally. In "Ithaca," Bloom finds several obvious signs of Boylan's recent presence: torn-up betting tickets, a depleted bottle of port, furniture rearranged so that Boylan and Molly could sing "Love's Old Sweet Song" together, cigarette butts, and an impression left in the Blooms' bed by a male (not Bloom). The crumbs of Plumtree's Potted Meat, carelessly left in this Penelopian bed, suggest the vulgarity of Boylan's lovemaking, since "to pot the meat' is Dublin slang for sexual intercourse.
Nor does Boylan deceive Molly, who is only too aware of his vulgarity. Boylan undressed casually in front of her, slapped her on the rump in a too familiar manner as he was leaving, and probably allowed Molly to determine the tone and manner of their sex. Molly does not deceive herself into believing that she and Boylan have any chance of a future together; she is using Boylan for relief from a quirkish husband as much as he is using her, and she considers how she can force him to buy presents for her. Molly knows how jealous and angry Boylan can be, however, and she hopes that Bloom does not change his mind and decide to accompany the two on the upcoming concert tour. She would have to sleep with Bloom in one room, and Boylan would be in another, and he would never believe that nothing sexual occurred between her and Bloom. Then, too, Boylan did tear up the losing racing tickets right in front of her in a fit of anger, not a very sophisticated way to act on a first seduction.
Given Boylan's coarseness, it is possible that Bloom may win Molly back. Boylan's phallic choice in the Gold Cup, Sceptre, did lose the race, which was won by the darkhorse, Throwaway, symbolic of Bloom. Molly will probably accede to Bloom's wishes for breakfast in bed later on the morning of June 17. And her last thoughts are of her husband. Above all, even if Bloom does lose Molly to Boylan, Bloom finds comfort in knowing that Blazes is only the "last term of a preceding series . . . ."
