The Playboy of the Western World by: J.M. Synge Flashcards
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| 5128011535 | Characters | Christopher (Christy) Mahon, Old Mahon, Michael James Flaherty (Michael James), Margaret Flaherty (Pegeen Mike), Widow Quin, Shawn Keogh, Philly Cullen, Jimmy Farrell, Sara Tansey, Susan Brady, Honor Blake, A bellman and some peasants | 0 | |
| 5128024244 | Christopher (Christy) Mahon | Son of Old Mahon, "murders" Old Mahon, in love with Pegeen Mike | 1 | |
| 5128058576 | Old Mahon | A squatter, an alcoholic, father of Christopher (Christy) Mahon, thinks Christy is a wussy | 2 | |
| 5128059973 | Michael James Flaherty (Michael James) | A publican, father of Pegeen Mike, Drunkard | 3 | |
| 5128061225 | Margaret Flaherty (Pegeen Mike) | Daughter of Michael James, marrying Shawn, in love with Christy (kinda) | 4 | |
| 5128060356 | Widow Quin | A woman of about thirty, kills her husband | 5 | |
| 5128061691 | Shawn Keogh | Widow Quin's Cousin, a young farmer, marrying Pegeen | 6 | |
| 5128062669 | Philly Curren and Jimmy Farrell | Small farmers | 7 | |
| 5128063044 | Sara Tansey, Susan Brady, and Honor Blake | Village girls | 8 | |
| 5128026702 | Setting of the Play | The action takes place near a village, on a wild coast of Mayo, The first act Passes on an evening of Autumn, the other two acts on the following day. | 9 | |
| 5128032020 | Themes of the Play | Authority (Michael James is a drunkard) (Old Man Mahon is an alcoholic), Masculinity (men are all de-masculinized & female characters are displayed as stronger), Violence (they support Christy when they haven't seen it, then once they see it they can't condone) | 10 | |
| 5128035676 | History of the Play | First performed in 1907 in Abbey Theatre (small stage); Synge worked on play for 8 years in Aran Islands an produces ten drafts | 11 | |
| 5128063281 | Meaning of "Playboy" | Winner; Wealthy man who leads a life of pleasure; "boy actor" (Christy begins as a boy actor and transforms into a playboy/man); Self-assured; wins matches; heroic | 12 | |
| 5128153320 | Allegorical Hero | Christy = Christ Mahon = Every man | 13 | |
| 5128161751 | Transformation of Christy Mahon | Act 1: Inarticulate, shy, beaten down, BUT begins to blossom; Act 2: Blossoming continues; Describes deed for village girls more vivdly; Christy is falling in love with Pegeen (there is a change in his speech; it becomes more poetic) (she holds a special place in his mind and heart); Act 3: Reversal of roles between Old Mahon and Christy at the end; focus on Christy's heroism; second attempt to kill dad (changes the villagers attitudes towards him); He is shocked when Pegeen turns on him (however, the belief in himself is still high) | 14 |