The Playboy of the Western World
Shawn represents an individual who seems to hide behind religiousstandards. This is illustrated when he says, "I'm afeard of Father Reilly;and what at all would the Holy Father and the Cardinals of Rome be sayingif they heard I did the like of that'" (I.42-4). Pegeen Mike, is abeautiful, free-spirited girl with a lively nature who is Shawn's opposite. We can see how her point of view differs from Shawn's when she tellsChristy he did nothing wrong and jokingly asks him, "Would you have meknock the head of you with the butt of the broom'" (I.100-1). Widow Quin,is a sharp-witted woman with less-than-desirable morals. We can get a
Through Christy, Synge is able to demonstratethe curious nature of humankind. Shawn accuses Christy of being "A bloody-handed murderer thelike of. Using specificconnotations, Synge engages us in great storytelling. For instance, Christy claims that he isan orphaned traveler (I. Forexample, Christy says, "Didn't I know rightly I was handsome, though it wasthe divil's own mirror we had beyond . In conclusion, Synge is emphasizing a stereotype of Irish culture bycontrasting it with the character's joy for life. However, Christy'sheroism is short lived when the crowd turns against him exclaiming that heis mad and to "Run from the idiot! (III. The clash of satire and the celebration Synge's style stand outin this thought-provoking play. His well-developedcharacters engage us as readers and their pleasure in the present moment isappealing. he says to Pegeen, "Maybe all knows a widowwoman has buried her children and destroyed her man is a wiser comrade fora young lad than a girl, the like of you, who'd go helter-skeltering afterany man would let you a wink upon the road" (I.
Common topics in this essay:
II12-5 Christy's,
Pegeen Mike,
Christy Didn't,
I107 Shawn,
Christy Synge,
Pegeen Maybe,
I205-8 Using,
,
Widow Quin,
Cardinals Rome,
killed father,
|