The protagonist of Ulysses is Leopold BLOOM, a middle-aged Jewish advertising canvasser living in Dublin. He is an ordinary man who is struggling to find meaning in his life and is often seen as a symbol of the common man. He is married to Molly BLOOM, with whom he has a strained relationship. Throughout the novel, BLOOM embarks on a journey of self-discovery, encountering a variety of characters and situations that challenge his preconceptions.