monologue Single Speaker Only Ulysses speaks in the poem He shares his personal thoughts without any interruptions or responses from others Imagined Listener Although we do not hear anyone else Ulysses seems to be addressing an audience perhaps his crew or the reader This creates a sense of conversation even though Ulysses is the only voice we hear Revelation of Character Through his words we learn about Ulysses dissatisfaction ambition and desire for adventure The dramatic monologue allows us to understand Ulysses personality in depth Ulysses Desire and Restlessness When the poem begins Ulysses is agitated and discontent at home in Ithaca He is restless for adventure Ulysses feels idle even though he rules as king Though he is a king and has all the comforts of home he feels trapped Through his monologue we see that Ulysses does like to sit idly at home It little profits that an idle king This line shows his discontent with a life of inactivity He believes his true identity is that of an explorer not a ruler This thirst for adventure and knowledge drives him to seek out the untravell'd world Ulysses Passion for Exploration The dramatic monologue also reveals Ulysses passion for knowledge and exploration He declares I cannot rest from travel I will drink Life to the lees He describes himself as someone who constantly seeks new experiences His speech tells us that he finds meaning in travel and discovery not in staying at home He is determined to keep exploring until he dies By hearing his voice directly we feel his passion and his desire to live fully despite his age Ulysses Inner Conflict In this monologue Ulysses also reflects on the idea of mortality and aging He acknowledges that he is old However he refuses to let his old age stop him from living life as he chooses He famously declares To strive to seek to find and not to yield This line shows his resolve to keep pushing forward Through the dramatic monologue we understand that Ulysses is not only a hero but also a man fighting against time and age In conclusion Ulysses is a powerful dramatic monologue because it allows us to hear directly from Ulysses himself Ulysses gives us a deeper understanding of his character Through his words we see his dissatisfaction with life at home his passion for exploration and his inner conflict about aging