This is an example of a trial illustration I did from the first part of Joyce’s Ulysses.
These are my preliminary notes, thinking of possible interpretation, that I wrote in preparation to illustrating the first part of the novel. See if you can follow my thinking:

‘Thoughts - From surface to depth, outside to inside, sinking and rising.
The labyrinth of quiet Stephen’s mind, thoughts of his mother’s death.
Recurring image of drowned man.
A view of the Martello Tower upon the rocks and the rough seas surrounding it –
the flashing mirror’s dazzling light from the parapet –
(a cracked shaving mirror) - razor with shaving brush.
Handkerchief as sea (quoted as ‘snot green sea’), which Mulligan borrowed from Dedalus to clean his razor.
Sky above, showing white floating image of Stephen’s mother - drowning dark body in the sea at the bottom of the picture, same angle - crumpled handkerchief and the winding staircase?’