Syntax and Sentence Structure – Sentences can be long, with multiple clauses, and the narrative often includes indirect thoughts or reflections, which requires careful reading.

Subtlety and Nuance – Much of the meaning comes from subtext, irony, or social commentary. Understanding characters’ motives or the significance of events often depends on inference rather than explicit explanation.

Cultural References – Joyce references Dublin life, politics, and Catholic culture in ways that a modern, non-Irish reader might find opaque without background knowledge.