Discussion of The Theme Through The Contrasting Characters in J.M.Synge's 'The Playboy of The Western World'.
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
ABSTRACT
Tugas akhir ini ditulis untuk memenuhi salah satu syarat kelulusan
program sarjana di Jurusan Bahasa Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Kristen
Maranatha. Dalam tugas akhir ini, penulis menganalisis tema melalui
perbandingan karakter antara tokoh utama dengan tokoh-tokoh lainnya dalam
drama karya J.M. Synge yang berjudul The Playboy of the Western World .
Melalui karyanya ini, J.M. Synge menggambarkan kehidupan tokoh
utama yang bernama Christy Mahon. Ia dianggap sebagai seorang pahlawan
ketika mendatangi desa Mayo. Anehnya, ia dianggap sebagai pahlawan oleh
masyarakat desa Mayo ketika ia mengaku telah membunuh ayahnya sendiri dan
karena keberaniannya melanggar norma sosial yang berlaku dalam masyarakat
tersebut. Terlebih lagi, ia dianggap sebagai seseorang yang kuat dan mampu
untuk melindungi para wanita di desa Mayo.
Keanehan ini terjadi karena masyarakat di desa Mayo mempunyai
kepribadian yang berlawanan dengan kepribadian Christy Mahon. Masyarakat
Mayo mempunyai kepribadian yang sangat penurut; walaupun dalam hati mereka
ingin memberontak, namun mereka tidak mempunyai keberanian untuk
melakukan hal itu. Terlebih lagi, sebagian besar pria di desa Mayo bersifat lemah,
penakut, dan tidak memiliki kemampuan untuk melindungi para wanita.
iii
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
Penulis menyimpulkan bahwa tema dari drama J.M. Synge yang
berjudul The Playboy of the Western World adalah ‘Seseorang yang kuat dan
berani melakukan perlawanan terhadap otoritas dan melanggar standar norma
yang berlaku di dalam masyarakat dapat dianggap sebagai seorang pahlawan oleh
masyarakat yang terikat oleh peraturan-peraturan yang ketat dan tidak memiliki
pria yang kuat’.
iv
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE ........................................................................................................
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................... ........................ ii
ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................... iii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study ........................................................................
Statement of the Problem .......................................................................
Purpose of the Study ..............................................................................
Method of Research ...............................................................................
Organization of the Thesis .....................................................................
1
3
3
4
4
CHAPTER TWO: DISCUSSION OF THE THEME THROUGH
THE CONTRASTING CHARACTERS IN J.M. SYNGE’S
THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD ............................. 5
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSION ............................................................ 15
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................ 18
APPENDICES
Synopsis of The Playboy of the Western World .................................... 19
Biography of the Author ........................................................................ 20
ii
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
APPENDICES
Synopsis of The Playboy of the Western World
The play begins in the Mayo village, in a pub owned by Michael James
Flaherty. Peegen Mike, Michael James’ daughter, is engaged to Shawn Keogh
who is a weak and anxious man. They are an unsuitable couple, but they only
have to wait for a dispensation from the Court of Rome before they get married.
Christy Mahon is a stranger who comes from a distant country in the South of
Ireland. He arrives at Michael’s pub one evening. The Mayo villagers interrogate
him concerning the reason why he comes to the Mayo village, and Christy Mahon
claims that he has been on the run from the law because he has killed his own
father.
The Mayo villagers accept Christy Mahon and conclude that he is a man
of great courage. Michael James not only offers Christy to stay and work as a pot
boy in his pub but he also gives him a good salary. The villagers admire him as a
hero because Mayo villagers do not have any strong and brave men. Most of the
men in the Mayo village are weak, anxious, and handicapped. Widow Quinn
comes to Michael James’ pub to see Christy Mahon, and she fights with Pegeen
because Widow Quin wants Christy to stay in her home.
Some girls are curious about Christy Mahon because they hear about the
story of the murder. Sara, Honor, Susan, Nelly are fighting to serve Christy’s
19
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
breakfast and try to get Christy’s attention. Shawn Keogh is the only man to have
an objection to Christy Mahon because his fiancée, Pegeen Mike, falls in love
with Christy Mahon. Moreover, they arrange a plan to get married. Widow Quinn
asks Christy Mahon to participate in the local sport games held by the Mayo
villagers and Christy Mahon is able to win all races there.
Besides, there is evidence that Old Mahon, who is Christy Mahon’s
father, is still alive. He reveals to Widow Quinn that Christy Mahon merely
knocks him unconscious and runs away. Furthermore, Old Mahon has been
following him ever since. Finally, Old Mahon meets Christy and they both fight
again. After the villagers hear Old Mahon’s stories, they immediately mock
Christy Mahon and then turn against him. Pegeen Mike also rejects Christy and
considers him to be a saucy liar. The villagers, including Pegeen Mike, decide to
hang him.
At the end of the play, Old Mahon and Christy finally stop fighting. Old
Mahon forgives Christy. Both of them leave the Mayo village. Shawn Keogh
states again that he will marry Pegeen Mike and no one will bother them again.
Peegen Mike claims that she has lost the only Playboy of the Western World.
Biography of the Author
John Millington Synge was born in April 16, 1871 in 2 Newtown Villas,
Rathfarnham, near Dublin. In 1872, J.M. Synge’s father, John Hatch Synge
passed away. Mrs Synge and her children, Robert, Annie, Edward, Samuel, and
John, moved to the 4 Orwell Park, Rathgar.
20
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
In 1887 J.M. Synge joined Dublin Naturalist Field Clubs and he began
studying the violin with Patrick Griffith in Dublin. In 1888 J.M. Synge entered
Trinity College, Dublin. In 1889, he attended lectures in Musical Theory at Royal
Academy of Music, Dublin.
J.M. Synge met and fell in love with Cherrie Matheson, a friend of his
cousin’s and a Plymouth Brethren. He proposed to her in 1895, but she turned
him down on both occasions because of their different religious viewpoints.
In 1896 he visited Italy to study the language for a time before returning
to Paris. Later, he met William Butler Yeats, who encouraged him to live for a
while in the Aran Islands and then returned to Dublin and devoted himself to
creative work.
In January 1897 J.M. Synge joined the Irish League and in the same year
he began writing Etude Morbide. In 1901 he completed The Aran Island.
Afterwards, he completed a two-act version of When the Moon Set.
J.M. Synge fell in love with Molly Allgood and they became secretly
engaged in the year 1906. The first performance of The Playboy of the Western
World in the year 1907 caused riots in Dublin, and yet it was performed with
great success in Oxford and London. Synge's later works, including The Tinker's
Wedding were published in 1908, but not produced for fear of further riots, and
Deirdre of the Sorrows, a tragedy, was unfinished at the time of his death but was
presented by the Abbey players in 1910.
In March 24, 1909 John Millington Synge died of Hodgkin’s disease in
the Elpis Nursing Home, Dublin.
(Coxhead, 4)
21
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
I choose to analyse drama for my thesis because drama portrays life as it
is and shows the real life of common people. Moreover, the actions and the
dialogues can help me reveal the characters’ emotion deeply. Drama is one of
three main genres in literature which performs various actions and dialogues by
the players. According to Shaw, ‘Drama is a literary composition in dramatic
form intended to be presented on a stage by actors who assume identities, speak
dialogue and perform actions devised by an author.’ (Shaw, 1972: 289). The
human life serves as an endless source of supply of interesting material for
drama. As Reaske states ‘Drama is a work of literature or composition which
delineates life and human activity by means of presenting various action of - and
dialogue between - a group of characters.’ (Reaske, 1966: 5).
I choose to analyse J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World
because this drama has a different theme in comparison with those of J.M.
Synge’s other works, most of which deal with nature, such as Riders to the Sea
and The Well of the Saints. To be more specific, The Playboy of the Western
1
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
World is a comedy that satirizes the way Irish people express their feelings
through singing and praising aside from seduction towards other people they
admire. ‘In all of the plays, The Playboy of the Western World is the exception,
being racial comedy satirizing the Irish delight in romantic personalities.’
(Beckoff, 1972: 156).
Moreover, I choose to analyse The Playboy of the Western World because
it is a controversial play. The first performance of this play causes a riot in Dublin.
It happens for the reason that the audiences feel that the portrayal of the
protagonist and the other major characters in the particular drama does not reflect
true Irish, ‘He had no attempt to represent Irish life as it is lived.’ (Skelton, 1971:
115). The people who protest the play are largely Catholic nationalists. They find
the play to be a kind of an insult to Irish moral and religious grounds. In the play,
there are some scenes that depict an unmarried Irish woman who sleeps with a
stranger living under the same roof and the Irish society’s admiration and support
towards the murderer. Moreover, there are a lot of violent acts that occur in this
particular drama. J.M. Synge’s depiction of the characters and their manner of
speech become the objection of the protesters.
Despite the controversy arising out of his works, J.M. Synge makes a great
contribution to the revival of the Irish literature. He was one of the Irish
playwrights who founded the Irish National Theater. He intended to revive the
Irish legends, culture and traditions in his literary works. ‘The group was able to
employ Irish folklore and history without becoming purely nationalistic: by
relying heavily on symbolism and other devices, it came fairly close to fusing
myth with legend, folklore, with history.’ (Beckoff, 1972: 151). Another
2
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
contribution of J.M Synge is by producing some of the best plays of the 20th
century in the drama, including The Playboy of the Western World.
I would like to analyse the theme of The Playboy of the Western World
since I find that the theme of the play is clear and essential. By analysing the
theme of a story, the readers will be able to find the meaning of the story as it is
stated that ‘Theme is the central idea and dominating idea in a literary work and
the moral message implicit in any work of art.’ (Shaw, 1972: 378).
There are a lot of elements which can reveal a theme, one of which is
through contrasting the characteristics of the protagonist of the play, as in the play
The Playboy of the Western World, Christy Mahon, and major characters in the
Mayo society. The portrayal of the protagonist and major characters lead me to
formulate the theme through their action, speech, and thought.
Statement of the Problem
In order to analyse the drama, I state the problems as follows:
1. What is the theme of J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World?
2. How do the contrasting characteristics of the protagonist and major
characters help to reveal the theme?
Purpose of Study
The purposes of studying and analysing J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the
Western World are:
1. To analyse the theme of J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World.
2. To discuss how the contrasting characteristics of the protagonist and major
characters help to reveal the theme.
3
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
Method of Research
In this research, I use library research. First of all, I read my primary text
entitled The Playboy of the Western World by J.M. Synge. Next, I decide the
topic to be discussed in my thesis. Then, I read some supporting criticism and
reference books. I continue my research by gathering information from the
Internet. Afterwards, I start to analyse the drama using the theories that support
my analysis. Finally, I use the data I have collected for my analysis from which I
draw some conclusions.
Organization of the Thesis
I will present my thesis in three chapters preceded by the Preface and the
Abstract. Chapter One, the Introduction, contains the Background of the Study,
the Statement of the Problem, the Purpose of the Study, the Method of Research,
and the Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two contains the Discussion of the
Theme through the Contrasting Characters in J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the
Western World. The last chapter, Chapter Three, contains the Conclusion. This
thesis ends with the Bibliography, which contains a list of the reference books and
various sources that I use, and the Appendices, which presents the Synopsis of the
Drama and the Biography of the Author.
4
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSION
Having read the drama, I find that the author, J.M. Synge, has successfully
conveyed the theme, which is ‘One who is strong and dares to rebel against the
authority and the moral standard of a society may be considered a hero by a
community which is strictly bound by rules and is lacking in strong men’.
The theme is revealed by contrasting the characteristics of the protagonist
of the drama and the major characters, the Mayo society. I contrast the
characteristic of the protagonist and those of the major character in this drama in
order to show they are completely different character.
Christy Mahon, who is the protagonist in this drama, has a rebellious
character. Christy Mahon, who suffers from his father’s pressure, cannot stand
living any longer with his father because his father often hits him for no apparent
reason and often forces his will on Christy Mahon. He encourages himself to
rebel against his father by killing him. Christy Mahon also rebels against
Catholicism. He does not follow the Catholic moral code by living with an
unmarried woman under the same roof. I also find that Christy Mahon is
portrayed as a man who is strong. Christy Mahon’s physical strength is seen
15
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
when he is able to beat all the participants in the local sport game and when he
defeats his cruel father with bare hands. Christy Mahon is also portrayed as a
strong man who is able to protect the women in the Mayo village.
The Mayo villagers act as an obedient lot. The Mayo village society is
oppressed by the authority. However, in contrast to Christy Mahon, they do not
have the courage to rebel against it. The Mayo villagers also feel irritated by the
moral codes applied there, but they just follow the codes without taking any
action to oppose them. I also find that the Mayo men are weak. Most of them are
handicapped and stupid. They are not only weak but also cowardly. Their
cowardice makes them unable to protect their women.
The Mayo villagers adore Christy Mahon as a hero for the reason that he
is a figure whom the Mayo villagers want to be. The Mayo villagers see Christy
Mahon’s rebellion and strength as an act of heroism, which they cannot have. I
assume that this drama is an excellent work of J.M. Synge as he is successful in
contrasting the protagonist with the major characters. Moreover, the contrast
creates an uncommon theme; the theme rarely happens in our society. In my
opinion, one who rebels the institution cannot be considered a hero, yet he must
bear some consequences. One also cannot be considered a hero simply because he
is physically strong. Moreover, one deserves praise to be a hero if one is brave to
do something worthy and not something which is inappropriate or which puts
others into misery.
Having analysed The Playboy of the Western World, I find that JM.
Synge wants to give a moral message to the readers that all oppressions can
create unwanted result in a form of rebellious of those oppressed.
16
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
Furthermore, the drama itself is controversial. I am of the opinion that it is
controversial because the Irish objected to J.M. Synge, who was known to have
been reviving the Irish legends, culture and traditions in his literary works, creates
characters who do not reflect true Irish. The protagonist of the drama, Christy
Mahon, an Irishman, does not represent the noble quality as a hero. On the
contrary, in my opinion he is actually a criminal because he tries to kill his father.
Moreover, the Mayo society who is supposed to represent the Irish society, adores
Christy Mahon. Perhaps J.M. Synge’s portrayal of the Irish cannot be accepted by
the Irish society. Besides, the depiction of their rebellion to Catholicism and the
use of so many rude words and violent acts in this drama offend Catholicism in
Ireland. I conclude that the drama, The Playboy of the Western World, is a
controversial work which is interesting to analyse.
17
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
BIBLIOGRAPHY
References:
Bekcoff, Samuel. History of English Literature. New York: Monarch Press. 1972.
Coxhead, Elizabeth. J.M. Synge and Lady Gregory. London: Longmans. 1969.
Reaske, Christoper R. How to Analyze Drama. New York: Monarch Press. 1966.
Shaw, Harry. Dictionary of Literary Terms. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc. 1972.
Skleton, Robin. The Writings of J.M. Synge. London: Thames and Hudson.1971.
Primary Text:
Synge, J.M. The Playboy of the Western World. New York: Vintage Books.1907.
18
ABSTRACT
Tugas akhir ini ditulis untuk memenuhi salah satu syarat kelulusan
program sarjana di Jurusan Bahasa Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Kristen
Maranatha. Dalam tugas akhir ini, penulis menganalisis tema melalui
perbandingan karakter antara tokoh utama dengan tokoh-tokoh lainnya dalam
drama karya J.M. Synge yang berjudul The Playboy of the Western World .
Melalui karyanya ini, J.M. Synge menggambarkan kehidupan tokoh
utama yang bernama Christy Mahon. Ia dianggap sebagai seorang pahlawan
ketika mendatangi desa Mayo. Anehnya, ia dianggap sebagai pahlawan oleh
masyarakat desa Mayo ketika ia mengaku telah membunuh ayahnya sendiri dan
karena keberaniannya melanggar norma sosial yang berlaku dalam masyarakat
tersebut. Terlebih lagi, ia dianggap sebagai seseorang yang kuat dan mampu
untuk melindungi para wanita di desa Mayo.
Keanehan ini terjadi karena masyarakat di desa Mayo mempunyai
kepribadian yang berlawanan dengan kepribadian Christy Mahon. Masyarakat
Mayo mempunyai kepribadian yang sangat penurut; walaupun dalam hati mereka
ingin memberontak, namun mereka tidak mempunyai keberanian untuk
melakukan hal itu. Terlebih lagi, sebagian besar pria di desa Mayo bersifat lemah,
penakut, dan tidak memiliki kemampuan untuk melindungi para wanita.
iii
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
Penulis menyimpulkan bahwa tema dari drama J.M. Synge yang
berjudul The Playboy of the Western World adalah ‘Seseorang yang kuat dan
berani melakukan perlawanan terhadap otoritas dan melanggar standar norma
yang berlaku di dalam masyarakat dapat dianggap sebagai seorang pahlawan oleh
masyarakat yang terikat oleh peraturan-peraturan yang ketat dan tidak memiliki
pria yang kuat’.
iv
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE ........................................................................................................
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................... ........................ ii
ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................... iii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study ........................................................................
Statement of the Problem .......................................................................
Purpose of the Study ..............................................................................
Method of Research ...............................................................................
Organization of the Thesis .....................................................................
1
3
3
4
4
CHAPTER TWO: DISCUSSION OF THE THEME THROUGH
THE CONTRASTING CHARACTERS IN J.M. SYNGE’S
THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD ............................. 5
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSION ............................................................ 15
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................ 18
APPENDICES
Synopsis of The Playboy of the Western World .................................... 19
Biography of the Author ........................................................................ 20
ii
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
APPENDICES
Synopsis of The Playboy of the Western World
The play begins in the Mayo village, in a pub owned by Michael James
Flaherty. Peegen Mike, Michael James’ daughter, is engaged to Shawn Keogh
who is a weak and anxious man. They are an unsuitable couple, but they only
have to wait for a dispensation from the Court of Rome before they get married.
Christy Mahon is a stranger who comes from a distant country in the South of
Ireland. He arrives at Michael’s pub one evening. The Mayo villagers interrogate
him concerning the reason why he comes to the Mayo village, and Christy Mahon
claims that he has been on the run from the law because he has killed his own
father.
The Mayo villagers accept Christy Mahon and conclude that he is a man
of great courage. Michael James not only offers Christy to stay and work as a pot
boy in his pub but he also gives him a good salary. The villagers admire him as a
hero because Mayo villagers do not have any strong and brave men. Most of the
men in the Mayo village are weak, anxious, and handicapped. Widow Quinn
comes to Michael James’ pub to see Christy Mahon, and she fights with Pegeen
because Widow Quin wants Christy to stay in her home.
Some girls are curious about Christy Mahon because they hear about the
story of the murder. Sara, Honor, Susan, Nelly are fighting to serve Christy’s
19
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
breakfast and try to get Christy’s attention. Shawn Keogh is the only man to have
an objection to Christy Mahon because his fiancée, Pegeen Mike, falls in love
with Christy Mahon. Moreover, they arrange a plan to get married. Widow Quinn
asks Christy Mahon to participate in the local sport games held by the Mayo
villagers and Christy Mahon is able to win all races there.
Besides, there is evidence that Old Mahon, who is Christy Mahon’s
father, is still alive. He reveals to Widow Quinn that Christy Mahon merely
knocks him unconscious and runs away. Furthermore, Old Mahon has been
following him ever since. Finally, Old Mahon meets Christy and they both fight
again. After the villagers hear Old Mahon’s stories, they immediately mock
Christy Mahon and then turn against him. Pegeen Mike also rejects Christy and
considers him to be a saucy liar. The villagers, including Pegeen Mike, decide to
hang him.
At the end of the play, Old Mahon and Christy finally stop fighting. Old
Mahon forgives Christy. Both of them leave the Mayo village. Shawn Keogh
states again that he will marry Pegeen Mike and no one will bother them again.
Peegen Mike claims that she has lost the only Playboy of the Western World.
Biography of the Author
John Millington Synge was born in April 16, 1871 in 2 Newtown Villas,
Rathfarnham, near Dublin. In 1872, J.M. Synge’s father, John Hatch Synge
passed away. Mrs Synge and her children, Robert, Annie, Edward, Samuel, and
John, moved to the 4 Orwell Park, Rathgar.
20
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
In 1887 J.M. Synge joined Dublin Naturalist Field Clubs and he began
studying the violin with Patrick Griffith in Dublin. In 1888 J.M. Synge entered
Trinity College, Dublin. In 1889, he attended lectures in Musical Theory at Royal
Academy of Music, Dublin.
J.M. Synge met and fell in love with Cherrie Matheson, a friend of his
cousin’s and a Plymouth Brethren. He proposed to her in 1895, but she turned
him down on both occasions because of their different religious viewpoints.
In 1896 he visited Italy to study the language for a time before returning
to Paris. Later, he met William Butler Yeats, who encouraged him to live for a
while in the Aran Islands and then returned to Dublin and devoted himself to
creative work.
In January 1897 J.M. Synge joined the Irish League and in the same year
he began writing Etude Morbide. In 1901 he completed The Aran Island.
Afterwards, he completed a two-act version of When the Moon Set.
J.M. Synge fell in love with Molly Allgood and they became secretly
engaged in the year 1906. The first performance of The Playboy of the Western
World in the year 1907 caused riots in Dublin, and yet it was performed with
great success in Oxford and London. Synge's later works, including The Tinker's
Wedding were published in 1908, but not produced for fear of further riots, and
Deirdre of the Sorrows, a tragedy, was unfinished at the time of his death but was
presented by the Abbey players in 1910.
In March 24, 1909 John Millington Synge died of Hodgkin’s disease in
the Elpis Nursing Home, Dublin.
(Coxhead, 4)
21
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
I choose to analyse drama for my thesis because drama portrays life as it
is and shows the real life of common people. Moreover, the actions and the
dialogues can help me reveal the characters’ emotion deeply. Drama is one of
three main genres in literature which performs various actions and dialogues by
the players. According to Shaw, ‘Drama is a literary composition in dramatic
form intended to be presented on a stage by actors who assume identities, speak
dialogue and perform actions devised by an author.’ (Shaw, 1972: 289). The
human life serves as an endless source of supply of interesting material for
drama. As Reaske states ‘Drama is a work of literature or composition which
delineates life and human activity by means of presenting various action of - and
dialogue between - a group of characters.’ (Reaske, 1966: 5).
I choose to analyse J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World
because this drama has a different theme in comparison with those of J.M.
Synge’s other works, most of which deal with nature, such as Riders to the Sea
and The Well of the Saints. To be more specific, The Playboy of the Western
1
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
World is a comedy that satirizes the way Irish people express their feelings
through singing and praising aside from seduction towards other people they
admire. ‘In all of the plays, The Playboy of the Western World is the exception,
being racial comedy satirizing the Irish delight in romantic personalities.’
(Beckoff, 1972: 156).
Moreover, I choose to analyse The Playboy of the Western World because
it is a controversial play. The first performance of this play causes a riot in Dublin.
It happens for the reason that the audiences feel that the portrayal of the
protagonist and the other major characters in the particular drama does not reflect
true Irish, ‘He had no attempt to represent Irish life as it is lived.’ (Skelton, 1971:
115). The people who protest the play are largely Catholic nationalists. They find
the play to be a kind of an insult to Irish moral and religious grounds. In the play,
there are some scenes that depict an unmarried Irish woman who sleeps with a
stranger living under the same roof and the Irish society’s admiration and support
towards the murderer. Moreover, there are a lot of violent acts that occur in this
particular drama. J.M. Synge’s depiction of the characters and their manner of
speech become the objection of the protesters.
Despite the controversy arising out of his works, J.M. Synge makes a great
contribution to the revival of the Irish literature. He was one of the Irish
playwrights who founded the Irish National Theater. He intended to revive the
Irish legends, culture and traditions in his literary works. ‘The group was able to
employ Irish folklore and history without becoming purely nationalistic: by
relying heavily on symbolism and other devices, it came fairly close to fusing
myth with legend, folklore, with history.’ (Beckoff, 1972: 151). Another
2
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
contribution of J.M Synge is by producing some of the best plays of the 20th
century in the drama, including The Playboy of the Western World.
I would like to analyse the theme of The Playboy of the Western World
since I find that the theme of the play is clear and essential. By analysing the
theme of a story, the readers will be able to find the meaning of the story as it is
stated that ‘Theme is the central idea and dominating idea in a literary work and
the moral message implicit in any work of art.’ (Shaw, 1972: 378).
There are a lot of elements which can reveal a theme, one of which is
through contrasting the characteristics of the protagonist of the play, as in the play
The Playboy of the Western World, Christy Mahon, and major characters in the
Mayo society. The portrayal of the protagonist and major characters lead me to
formulate the theme through their action, speech, and thought.
Statement of the Problem
In order to analyse the drama, I state the problems as follows:
1. What is the theme of J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World?
2. How do the contrasting characteristics of the protagonist and major
characters help to reveal the theme?
Purpose of Study
The purposes of studying and analysing J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the
Western World are:
1. To analyse the theme of J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the Western World.
2. To discuss how the contrasting characteristics of the protagonist and major
characters help to reveal the theme.
3
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
Method of Research
In this research, I use library research. First of all, I read my primary text
entitled The Playboy of the Western World by J.M. Synge. Next, I decide the
topic to be discussed in my thesis. Then, I read some supporting criticism and
reference books. I continue my research by gathering information from the
Internet. Afterwards, I start to analyse the drama using the theories that support
my analysis. Finally, I use the data I have collected for my analysis from which I
draw some conclusions.
Organization of the Thesis
I will present my thesis in three chapters preceded by the Preface and the
Abstract. Chapter One, the Introduction, contains the Background of the Study,
the Statement of the Problem, the Purpose of the Study, the Method of Research,
and the Organization of the Thesis. Chapter Two contains the Discussion of the
Theme through the Contrasting Characters in J.M. Synge’s The Playboy of the
Western World. The last chapter, Chapter Three, contains the Conclusion. This
thesis ends with the Bibliography, which contains a list of the reference books and
various sources that I use, and the Appendices, which presents the Synopsis of the
Drama and the Biography of the Author.
4
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSION
Having read the drama, I find that the author, J.M. Synge, has successfully
conveyed the theme, which is ‘One who is strong and dares to rebel against the
authority and the moral standard of a society may be considered a hero by a
community which is strictly bound by rules and is lacking in strong men’.
The theme is revealed by contrasting the characteristics of the protagonist
of the drama and the major characters, the Mayo society. I contrast the
characteristic of the protagonist and those of the major character in this drama in
order to show they are completely different character.
Christy Mahon, who is the protagonist in this drama, has a rebellious
character. Christy Mahon, who suffers from his father’s pressure, cannot stand
living any longer with his father because his father often hits him for no apparent
reason and often forces his will on Christy Mahon. He encourages himself to
rebel against his father by killing him. Christy Mahon also rebels against
Catholicism. He does not follow the Catholic moral code by living with an
unmarried woman under the same roof. I also find that Christy Mahon is
portrayed as a man who is strong. Christy Mahon’s physical strength is seen
15
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
when he is able to beat all the participants in the local sport game and when he
defeats his cruel father with bare hands. Christy Mahon is also portrayed as a
strong man who is able to protect the women in the Mayo village.
The Mayo villagers act as an obedient lot. The Mayo village society is
oppressed by the authority. However, in contrast to Christy Mahon, they do not
have the courage to rebel against it. The Mayo villagers also feel irritated by the
moral codes applied there, but they just follow the codes without taking any
action to oppose them. I also find that the Mayo men are weak. Most of them are
handicapped and stupid. They are not only weak but also cowardly. Their
cowardice makes them unable to protect their women.
The Mayo villagers adore Christy Mahon as a hero for the reason that he
is a figure whom the Mayo villagers want to be. The Mayo villagers see Christy
Mahon’s rebellion and strength as an act of heroism, which they cannot have. I
assume that this drama is an excellent work of J.M. Synge as he is successful in
contrasting the protagonist with the major characters. Moreover, the contrast
creates an uncommon theme; the theme rarely happens in our society. In my
opinion, one who rebels the institution cannot be considered a hero, yet he must
bear some consequences. One also cannot be considered a hero simply because he
is physically strong. Moreover, one deserves praise to be a hero if one is brave to
do something worthy and not something which is inappropriate or which puts
others into misery.
Having analysed The Playboy of the Western World, I find that JM.
Synge wants to give a moral message to the readers that all oppressions can
create unwanted result in a form of rebellious of those oppressed.
16
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
Furthermore, the drama itself is controversial. I am of the opinion that it is
controversial because the Irish objected to J.M. Synge, who was known to have
been reviving the Irish legends, culture and traditions in his literary works, creates
characters who do not reflect true Irish. The protagonist of the drama, Christy
Mahon, an Irishman, does not represent the noble quality as a hero. On the
contrary, in my opinion he is actually a criminal because he tries to kill his father.
Moreover, the Mayo society who is supposed to represent the Irish society, adores
Christy Mahon. Perhaps J.M. Synge’s portrayal of the Irish cannot be accepted by
the Irish society. Besides, the depiction of their rebellion to Catholicism and the
use of so many rude words and violent acts in this drama offend Catholicism in
Ireland. I conclude that the drama, The Playboy of the Western World, is a
controversial work which is interesting to analyse.
17
Universitas Kristen Maranatha
BIBLIOGRAPHY
References:
Bekcoff, Samuel. History of English Literature. New York: Monarch Press. 1972.
Coxhead, Elizabeth. J.M. Synge and Lady Gregory. London: Longmans. 1969.
Reaske, Christoper R. How to Analyze Drama. New York: Monarch Press. 1966.
Shaw, Harry. Dictionary of Literary Terms. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc. 1972.
Skleton, Robin. The Writings of J.M. Synge. London: Thames and Hudson.1971.
Primary Text:
Synge, J.M. The Playboy of the Western World. New York: Vintage Books.1907.
18