Theosophy was an occultist religion founded in the 1870s by the Russian mystic Madame Blavatsky, which was based on eclectic, often exaggerated interpretations of Hindu and Buddhist philosophy.
Get the entire Ulysses LitChart as a printable PDF.
Theosophy Term Timeline in Ulysses
The timeline below shows where the term Theosophy appears in Ulysses. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Episode 7: Aeolus
...with Professor Magennis about Stephen, who apparently asked a visiting American researcher about Madame Blavatsky’s theosophists. Stephen wants to ask what Magennis said, but he knows he shouldn’t.
(full context)
Episode 12: Cyclops
...corner, “Who are you laughing at? […] Who’s dead?” In a parody of the Sanskrit-obsessed theosophists, the novel describes Alf establishing a mystical connection with Paddy Dignam’s departed spirit. Then, the...
(full context)
