The Playboy of the Western World

Out of all the works we have read in class thus far, The Playboy of the Western World is the one that presents the clearest form of happiness in its text. I found this play to be juxtaposed with humor and misery. Happiness is coupled with despair throughout the three acts as they walk hand-in-hand down the Irish village lane. Synge displays a fantastic amount of humor and wit that only an Irish author could possess. Humor spills out of the ditzy village girls, from ridiculous and random events like the donkey race at the top of the third act, and even from the love triangle that is created between Christy, Widow Quin, and Pegeen. From that humor stems happiness and an air of lightheartedness that provides the reader with a sense amusement.

I think that the villagers also find happiness in creating a frenzy when the new meat comes to town. Once Christy arrives, there is a sudden break from the daily lull of the country village as new thoughts and rumors begin to swirl around the foreigner. As he quickly becomes.. involved.. with many of the characters, I think each individual is secretly celebrating. Although some may deny their enjoyment, I think they're finding happiness in Christy simply because he is new and exciting and he gives them something to discuss. Through the eyes of Christy, they embellish the outside world, and they find pleasure in creating this almost inhuman portrayal of Christy and all that he represents to the villagers. And as the frenzy picks up pace as the play progresses, I think that their excitement and happiness rolls along with it.

But just when the humor seems to overthrow the plot line, reality rears its ugly head and we are subtly grounded back down to the harsh realities of the arid land. Beneath the fast paced humor and excitement that seemingly spirals out of control to the point of no earthly return lies a much darker aspect of small town life. Synge is writing about an extremely impoverished population at this point in history. They are being severely oppressed by their friends to the east. And under their light hearts lurks a harsh reality of struggle and their fight for survival. As Christy often spouts phrases that mention God and how they have been treated unfairly, I begin to get the impression that a deeper anguish rests in all of them. The characters must deal with murders, betrayals, and poverty amidst a multitude of other daily struggles. Yet somehow I found this play to be extremely upbeat and oddly optimistic. It combines such extremes and somehow they are able to coincide in the same place. Yet I think happiness ultimately prevails because that is the emotion these characters are choosing to hold onto. I think they have to. If they let go of that humor and that enjoyment, they would have nothing else to live for. For them, happiness is their reason to live. So they bribe people to love them, and drink unimaginable amounts, and hold arbitrary donkey races.

It must be an Irish thing.