Genre
Play; Irish Play
Language
English
Setting and Context
The fictional town of Ballybeg, in County Donegal, Ireland
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator is Michael Evans, as an adult, narrating the events of the summer during his seventh year.
Tone and Mood
The tone is at times upbeat and optimistic but as the play goes on, it becomes more fearful and depressing. The mood is increasingly pessimistic.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Michael is the protagonist. His father, Gerry, is the antagonist in a sense because he continues to offer Michael's mother, Christina, a proposal of marriage that he cannot possibly fulfill
Major Conflict
There is conflict between Kate and Jack, because she is devoted to the Catholic church and her faith, and he has in many ways lost his, feeling more of a bond with the African pagan faiths he encountered in Uganda.
Climax
The climax of the play is the summation of what happened to the characters after the events that are portrayed; the sisters lives unravel after the play ends and Michael learns that he has a half brother.
Foreshadowing
A knitwear factory coming to town foreshadows the end of the hand made gloves enterprise for Agnes and Rose.
Understatement
Michael states that his aunts had a sad end but in so doing understates their horrible demise, particularly Rose, who dies in a hospice for homeless people, and Jack, who is so badly affected by the events that he has a heart attack.
Allusions
The play alludes to the Spanish Civil War as Gerry intends to join the International Brigade and fight against Franco.
Imagery
N/A
Paradox
Christina has paradoxical feelings when Gerry leaves. At the same time she Is plunged into depression because he is leaving, yet filled anew with hope and anticipation because each minute that passes is a minute closer to his coming back again.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between Christina's moods and Gerry's presence; when he is with her she is happy, when he leaves she plunges into a deep depression.
Personification
N/A
Use of Dramatic Devices
The use of monologue enables us to learn more about the characters that their own conversations with each other do not reveal. For example Maggie Mundy's monologue tells us that she had dreams of her own that her previous jocular banter did not. She tells of her feelings when a friend is successful and how she wishes this had been something that she had enjoyed in her own life. The use of monologue in the play gives a more revealing picture of the key characters.
