Juno and the Paycock :: English Literature

Juno and the PaycockOCaseys women in Juno and the Paycock atomic number 18 strong and admirablecharacters.Juno and Mary Boyles lives arent very pleasant in this 1920s playwhich is separated into three acts which contain a mixture of bothtragic and humorous elements. Juno, the wife of Captain Boyle, is themother of two children who are in constant need of attention from her.Furthermore, as the play continues this need of attention grows withthe facts of financial difficulties, the pregnancy of Mary (daughter)and as well as her sons, Johnny, death in the end.OCasey clearly delivers that Juno certainly has her work cut out forher, as she is not only the one person in the family who has a job,but also she is the house-wife and must render her family by makingall the meals, going to buy the groceries, doing any form of housework and looking after the family in general. For example, on pageboy 8she says, I killin meself workin, and also on page 12 she says,Your poor wife slavin to keep the bit in your mouth these tworeferences show just how hard Juno works to keep her family happy andalive. This is not made any easier when Mr. Boyle spends any moneyJuno has saved, in hope for any decent afterlife for the family, onalcohol in the local pub. Therefore Juno cannot afford any type ofluxuries for herself as she definitely does deserve it. The poverty isevident on page 12 in Junos comment to Mr. Boyle, eat yourbreakfast it may be the last youll get for I dont know where the nigh one is goin to come from. But even this will not cause concernfor Junos principles when on page six we learn that Juno is againstTrade Unions, When the employers surrender wan victim, the TradeUnions go wan betther be sacrificin a hundred. Then Mary tells herthat, a principles a principle, but Juno be realistic and thinkswell its all good and well having principles if you can affordthem. She is the one who seems to keep the family as a unit and thisis evidently shown when Juno says, I dont know what any o yous uddo without your ma. Juno is a well respected member of the family andmight even be best to Mr. Boyle and Joxer, a family friend,because when the pair is talking on page nine, Mrs. Boyle enters andboth are said to be stupefied. After this, she offers him an egg,and he makes the excuse that hes in a desperate hurry this may be