W. Sweny's, the chemist's, in order to pick up some face lotion for Molly; he notices that the shop is filled with lotus land-like items, such as chloroform, and this symbolism is enhanced by Bloom's having forgotten the recipe (prescription) — just as he will forget to return to Sweny's later in the day. In addition, the bar of lemon soap that Bloom takes with him from the chemist's and that will pursue him in "Circe" becomes a symbolic lotus flower, as Bloom sniffs its fragrance. Finally, Bloom ends the chapter by contemplating taking a Turkish bath; he visualizes his penis as a "languid floating flower," or lotus.
Thus much of the activity (or nonactivity) in "The Lotus-Eaters" records Bloom's desire to escape, to evade the responsibilities of both a wife and a mistress. Bloom doesn't really want an answer from Martha, and, as the postmistress turns to search the postal pigeonhole, he half-wishes that there would be no letter for him: "No answer probably. Went too far last time." He rejects Martha's offer to meet one Sunday after the Rosary and convinces himself that a "love duet" with Martha would be as unpleasant as an argument with Molly; immediately afterwards, he thinks of another lotus image, the narcotic effect of a cigar.
Bloom's wish to escape is a very human trait, and at one point he reveals his deep desire to overcome his loneliness in his city, Dublin, where he feels deeply alienated from his fellow citizens because of his Judaism; he feels that Holy Communion may be a "lollipop" for the faithful, but he reasons that it does permit them to relieve their sense of isolation, to "feel all like one family party. . . . Not so lonely."
Several more allusions to religion in this episode are used to define types of escapism, and they are crucial to an understanding of "The Lotus-Eaters." For example, consider Bloom's thoughts about Martha and Mary and Christ at Bethany. Martha complained because, while she was bustling about the house, Mary simply sat at Christ's feet and listened to His words. Christ reproved not Mary, but Martha, saying that Mary had chosen the better part. The two sisters were the siblings of Lazarus, whom Christ raised from the dead.
