Juno and the Paycock :: English Literature

Juno and the PaycockOCaseys women in Juno and the Paycock are strong and admirablecharacters.Juno and Mary Boyles lives arent very pleasant in this 1920s butterflywhich 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 unbroken 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 also her sons, Johnny, death in the end.OCasey understandably shows 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 devote 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 page 8she says, I killin meself workin, and also on page 12 she says,Your poor wife slavin to keep the bit in yo ur mouth these tworeferences show just how delicate 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 future for the family, onalcoholic beverage 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 thenext one is goin to coiffe from. But even this will not cause concernfor Junos principles when on page six we learn that Juno is against allot Unions, When the employers sacrifice wan victim, the TradeUnions go wan betther be sacrificin a hundred. Then Mary tells herthat, a principles a principle, but Juno stays realistic and thinks nearly 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 superior to Mr. Boyle and Joxer, a family friend,because when the play off 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