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FREE THREE DUBLIN PLAYS: SHADOW OF A GUNMAN, AND PLOUGH AND THE STARS PDF

Sean O'Casey | 272 pages | 20 Oct 2000 | FABER & FABER | 9780571195527 | English | London, United Kingdom Three Plays: Juno and the Paycock / The Shadow of a Gunman / The Plow and the Stars by Seán O'Casey His father died when John was six, and thereafter the family became progressively poorer. With only three years of formal schooling, he educated himself by reading. He started work at 14, mostly at manual labour, including several years with the Irish railways. He also joined the Irish Citizen Armya paramilitary arm of the Irish labour unions, and drew up its constitution in At this time he became disillusioned with the Irish nationalist movement because its leaders put nationalist ideals before socialist ones. Disgusted with the existing political parties, he turned his energies to drama. His tragicomedies reflect in part his mixed feelings about his fellow slum dwellers, seeing them as incapable of giving a socialist direction to the Irish cause but at the same time admirable for their unconquerable spirit. After several of his plays had been rejected, the in Dublin produced The Shadow of a Gunmanset during the guerrilla strife between the Irish Three Dublin Plays: Shadow of a Gunman Army and British forces. In the Abbey staged Juno and the Paycockhis most popular play, set during the period of civil war over the terms of Irish independence. The Plough and the Starswith the Easter Rising as its Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars, caused riots at the Abbey by patriots who thought the play denigrated Irish heroes. Another Expressionist play, Within the Gatesfollowed, in which the modern world is symbolized by the happenings in a public park. The Star Turns Red is an antifascist play, and the semiautobiographical is set in Dublin at the time of the Irish railways strike of His last full- length play was a satire on Dublin intellectualsBehind the Green Curtains Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars All are tragicomedies set in the slums of Dublin during times of war and revolution. Violent death and the everyday realities of tenement life throw into relief Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars blustering rhetoric and patriotic swagger of men caught up in the struggle for Irish independence. The resulting ironic juxtapositions of the comic and tragic reveal the waste of war and the corrosive effects of poverty. In his later plays he tended to abandon vigorous characterization in favour of expressionism and symbolism, and sometimes the drama is marred by didacticism. Print Cite. Facebook Twitter. Give Feedback External Websites. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article requires login. External Websites. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree Britannica Quiz. History Makers: Fact or Fiction? Albert Einstein believed that mathematics problems should have very complex solutions. Get exclusive access to content from our First Edition with your subscription. Subscribe today. Learn More in these related Britannica articles:. Several of these writers became interested in innovative techniques and forms. During the s, Yeats too tried his hand at experimentation, composing poetic…. His plays often explore the effect on ordinary Dubliners of events sparked by political unrest. The Shadow of a Gunman …. History at your fingertips. Sign up here to see what happened On This Dayevery day in your inbox! Email address. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Sean O'Casey | Irish dramatist | Britannica

Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Sean O'Casey was born in and lived through a bitterly hard boyhood in a Dublin tenement house. He never went to school but received most of his education in the streets of Dublin, and taught himself to read at the age of fourteen. He was successively a newspaper-seller, docker, stone-breaker, railway-worker and builders' labourer. In he helped to organise the Iri Sean O'Casey was born in and lived through a bitterly hard boyhood in a Dublin tenement house. In he helped to organise the Irish Citizen Army which fought in the streets of Dublin, and at the same time he was learning his dramatic technique by reading Shakespeare and watching the plays of Dion Boucicault. His early works were performed at the Abbey Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars, Dublin, and Lady Gregory made him welcome at Coole, but disagreement followed and after visiting America in the late thirties O'Casey settled in Devonshire. He lived there until his death inthough still drawing the themes of many of his plays from the life he knew so well on the banks of the Liffey. Out of the ceaseless dramatic experimenting in his plays O'Casey created a flamboyance and versatility that sustain the impression of bigness of mind that is inseparable from his tragi-comic vision of life. Get A Copy. Mass Market Paperbackpages. More Details Original Title. Ireland Dublin Ireland. Other Editions 7. Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Three Playsplease sign up. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. All three plays are quite good. I love how O'Casey writes completely in vernacular, it gives the plays a downright sense of nationalistic importance. Overall it's a good collection. Oct 26, Roger Cottrell rated it it was amazing. A Marxist, a classicist and 20th Century Ireland's greatest playwright. Because of his scrupulous criticism of Republicanism, his revolutionary socialism and exile in Britain he's almost a non person for Irish literary critics and wasn't mentioned once when I was at film school in Dublin. And I ask myself, what's so great about Samuel Becket in any case, when he wouldn't know one end of Aristotle's Poetics from a shovel. O'Casey's representation of working class life Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars Dublin is brilliant, too. There's a pub named after him near the Abbey Theatre even though he was tetotal but the Flowing Tide next door is a better gaff. Feb 11, Angelique rated it really liked it Shelves: books-read-inthings-read-in This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Although sometimes it was just him telling what happened and not getting under the drama. I absolutely loved re reading Juno and the Paycock. Great characters, made me think about wealth, the words flew off the page and I could see it all. By far, the best of the three. The Shadow of a Gunman was too literal. I was saying this to a friend and he was like is it the snakes on a plane of Irish plays why are all this mutha fucking gunmen in these mutha fucking shadows? It was like a history play. It depends a lot on staging. again was like a history play. I loved the Dublin way of writing Bourwaazee! Sep 11, Abby rated it it was amazing. First, what I loved most about these plays are the language and how the phonetic words of the Irish from different classes are written on the page. I immediately heard them Three Dublin Plays: Shadow of a Gunman my head and was put in the play's time and place. Paycock refers to Juno's ne'er do well husba First, what I loved most about these plays are the language and how the phonetic words of the Irish from different classes are written on the page. Paycock refers to Juno's ne'er do well husband. Of course that makes Juno the long suffering wife. If you are not aware of the history of Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars during the time of the play you may want to read up on it. However, I am aware of the history but felt there was well laid information placed in the dialogue as a guide. But knowing that the British Military were highly visible and why and what their nicknames were is important. The most fascinating thing about this play is how Three Dublin Plays: Shadow of a Gunman the IRA and other even more vigilant Irish groups could and would bully the citizens into submission in the name of freeing Ireland. Ultimately, even though "tragic" things happened to Juno and her family, I do not consider the play a complete "Tragedy" because I found hope at the end of the Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars. Most characters had endings to bad relationships and were beginning lives of truth and strength. The play "The Shadow of the Gunman" is truly a tragedy. The play takes place in May The British army is referred to as "the Black and Tans" because of their tan military clothing and black leather belts. The Irish people were terrorized and bullied to put it lightly by the British Army. The mistakes and actions of the characters are irrevocably changed by the end of the play because of this constant fear. A reference to the flag by an Irishman, The Young Covey character, and Socialist is made at the beginning of the play. He is disgusted when the "Citizen Army" uses the flag during a protest. Covey feels the flag should never be used for politics and should only be used to create a "Worker's Republic". He has an ongoing verbal battle with two of the headstrong characters of the play. With brutal honesty the play shows the tragedy of war, whether verbal or with weapons. These plays bring you as close as possible to Irish history with well-formed characters you will root for and weep for. I highly recommend reading the O'Casey Dublin Trilogy. Irish tragi-comedy, a characteristic particular to the Irish character. Sean O'Casey belonged to the working class and Three Dublin Plays: Shadow of a Gunman in these plays captures three Dublin families during the Irish Civil War. It's a fascinating look, and because it's in play form seems almost like listening in at a space in a time long gone. The characters are interesting and we simultaneously feel sorry and annoyed. It's especially tragic the Irish would have turned in on themselves after such a long run of horrors inflic Irish tragi-comedy, a characteristic particular to the Irish character. It's especially tragic the Irish would have turned in on themselves after such a long run of horrors inflicted by the English. I also enjoyed the scene sets when O'Casey writes freely, one can see the poet in him and he paints clear wonderful pictures of his characters. May 31, Benjamin Fasching-Gray rated it it was amazing Shelves: irish. They are all tragedies, so you know that all that wrong people are going to die by the end, but these are great. Lots of laughs, tears, song, and alcohol. Working class characters, but there's no whitewashing them, they are as ugly as they want to be I guess this stuff is social realism like Gorky or something Three Dublin Plays: Shadow of a Gunman it doesn't seem too heavy handed But actually, if they had lived, you'd think it was corny, so in the end, these are perfect and proba They are all tragedies, so you know that all that wrong people are Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars to die by the end, but these are great. But actually, if they had lived, you'd think it was corny, so in the end, these are perfect and probably something people will be reading and hopefully performing centuries from now. I plan to read more by this guy. A renowned Irish playwright committed to socialist ideals, O'Casey was known for his realistic portrayal of Irish tenement life, fully realized female characters, and passion for the cause of Irish independence. Two of the greatest plays of the Irish canon are part of the Dublin plays: "Juno and the Paycock" about a family in the tenement slums and "The Plough and the Stars" set during the time of the famous Easter Uprising of These three tragi-comedies wonderfully evoke the lives of tenement-dwellers in the Dublin of a century ago. Juno and the Paycock - Wikipedia

Highly regarded and often performed in Ireland, it was first staged at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in It is set in the working-class tenements of Dublin in the early s, during the Irish Civil War period. Juno and the Paycock takes place in the tenements of Dublin injust after the outbreak of the Irish Civil Warand revolves Three Dublin Plays: Shadow of a Gunman the misfortunes of the dysfunctional Boyle family. The father, "Captain" Jack so called because of his propensity for telling greatly exaggerated stories of his short career as a merchant seamanis a loafer who claims to be unable to work because of pains in his legs, which mysteriously appear whenever someone mentions work. Despite his family's poverty, Jack spends all his time and money at the pub with Joxer Daly, his ne'er-do-well " butty ," instead of looking for a job. The mother, Juno so called because all of the important events in her life took place in Juneis the only member of the family currently working, as daughter Mary is on strike and son Johnny is disabled, having lost his arm in the War of Independence. Mary feels guilty about dumping her boyfriend and fellow striker, Jerry Devine, who feels more strongly for her than she does for him. Meanwhile, Johnny agonises over his betrayal of his friend Robbie Tancred, a neighbour and former comrade in the IRAwho was subsequently murdered by Free State supporters; Johnny is terrified that the IRA will execute him as punishment for being an informant. Near the end of the act, one of Jack's relatives dies, and a schoolteacher, Charles Bentham, brings news that the Boyles have come into a large inheritance; Bentham notes aloud that the will names "John Boyle, [my] first cousin, of Dublin" as one of the beneficiaries. Overjoyed with the news, Jack vows to Juno to end his friendship with Joxer and change his ways. A mere two days after receiving Mr Bentham's news, Jack has already begun flaunting his newfound wealth by purchasing a new suitnew furniture, a gramophoneand other luxuries on creditin anticipation of receiving the inheritance. The Boyles throw a party and invite Bentham, who is courting Mary. Joxer is present, Jack having already forgotten his vow to break off contact with him, and Mrs Maisie Madigan, a neighbour to whom Jack owes money, shows up after having been invited in Act I. During the party, Robbie Tancred's funeral procession passes the tenement, but the Boyles and their guests halt their carousing only when Tancred's grieving mother stops at their door. Juno goes out to offer support to Mrs Tancred, who delivers a monologue mourning the loss of her son and praying for an end to the war, but Jack selfishly ignores her suffering. Two months later, Bentham abruptly ceases all contact with the family and abandons Mary, who, it is revealed, is secretly carrying his child out of wedlock. While Jack is sleeping, Juno takes Mary to the doctor. Soon after they leave, Needle Nugent, the local tailor, storms into the flat and repossesses Jack's suit. Then Mrs Madigan arrives, demanding repayment of the loan she gave Jack; when he refuses to pay, she takes the gramophone as recompense. Joxer who was present for both incidents, and did nothing to help needles Jack about Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars that the inheritance is not forthcoming; this soon devolves into an argument Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars which Joxer openly mocks Jack's fortune as fraudulent. While Johnny upbraids his father for embarrassing the family, Juno returns alone and delivers the news of Mary's pregnancy. As Juno pleads with Jack to use the leftover money from the inheritance to move the family to a different city, he angrily reveals that they will receive nothing due to an error Bentham made while drafting the will he failed to include the beneficiaries' names, referring to Jack only as "[my] first cousin". As a result, numerous relations are claiming the inheritance, which is rapidly being eaten up by legal costs; to make matters worse, Bentham has apparently fled the country out of shame. Johnny berates his father for his shortsightedness and avarice. Unable to cope with the stress of the situation, Three Dublin Plays: Shadow of a Gunman disowns Mary and retreats to the pub to drink with Joxer. Johnny persuades Juno to follow Jack and beg him to come home. Mary returns, and Johnny disowns her as well. Jerry Devine shows up to patch things up with Mary, Juno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars he too renounces her when he learns of her pregnancy. As the last of Jack's fancy new furniture is being repossessed, several IRA men arrive and drag Johnny away; Juno later hears from Mrs Madigan that a body resembling Johnny's has been found on a country road, riddled with bullets. Juno decides that Jack will never take on his responsibilities as a father and breadwinner, so she leaves to make a better life for herself and Mary. She sends Mary to live with a relative and, before going to the police station to identify Johnny's body, delivers a monologue that echoes Mrs Tancred's in Act II. Some time later, Jack stumbles home from the pub with Joxer, extremely drunk and unaware that his son is dead or that his wife and daughter have left him. After a brief conversation, Jack accidentally drops his last sixpence on the floor; he drunkenly mourns that "the whole world is in a terrible state o' chassis " before passing out. InJuno and the Paycock and Plough and the Stars British film adaptation of the play was produced which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. At least 11 adaptations have been produced for BBC Radio. Maisie Madigan. O'Casey "Recorded at his home in Totnes, Devon on November 12, " the play's opening and closing scenes. Caedmon also released a 7" in the UK, just containing the Juno readings. The cast includes:. A musical adaptation of the play, titled Junowas created by Marc Blitzstein music, lyrics and Joseph Stein book and opened on Broadway in The musical version was a flop, closing after 16 performances, but Blitzstein's score was preserved on the original cast album and is today considered one of the composer's masterpieces. O'Casey gave his blessing to the project, but never saw the production. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. For the film by Alfred Hitchcock of the same name, see Juno and the Paycock film. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Main article: Juno and the Paycock film. Main article: Juno musical. Retrieved 29 February Retrieved 6 October Breon O'Casey son. Namespaces Article Talk. Views Read Edit View history. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. Download as PDF Printable version.