Leaving Certificate Ordinary Level – Excellence in English Language and Literature
‘Widow Quin never falls under Christy’s spell and behaves better than the other characters as a result.’
Do you agree with this statement? Support your answer with reference to the play. ‘
c D Shawn Keogh
Shawn is a local farmer who is engaged to Pegeen. Her father arranged the match and Shawn is pleased with it, even though he and Pegeen have no real relationship. He is a cowardly man and is terrifi ed of doing anything of which Father Reilly – the local priest – might disapprove. He is not willing to fi ght for Pegeen when Christy arrives on the scene and his lack of courage persuades even Pegeen’s father that he would not make a good husband.
Shawn tries to bribe Christy to leave but fails. When the local people turn on Christy, Shawn is delighted but is still not brave enough to help them tie Christy up with a rope. He hopes that Christy’s departure will mean that he and Pegeen can go back to the way things were and can be married soon. She boxes his ears and sends him away, but the reality is that she will probably be left with little option other than to settle for him.
Feature Coward
Examples
Shawn is so frightened by the sounds of a man (who we later learn is Christy) ‘groaning out, and breaking his heart’ in the ditch that he runs away. When Michael Flaherty tries to force Shawn to spend the night with Pegeen to keep her safe, Shawn wriggles out of Michael’s grasp – leaving his coat behind – shouting in terror. He refuses to fi ght Christy for Pegeen, saying he is ‘afeard of the gallows’, and runs away when Christy chases him from the house. Michael Flaherty fi nally admits
82 Discussion
Shawn’s cowardice is in direct contrast to Christy’s heroism (even if that heroism is initially based on a lie).
