Juno and the Paycock

Juno and the Paycock

“O’Casey’s women in Juno and the Paycock are strong and admirable

characters”.

Juno and Mary Boyle’s lives aren’t very pleasant in this 1920’s play

which is separated into three acts which contain a mixture of both

tragic and humorous elements. Juno, the wife of Captain Boyle, is the

mother of two children who are in constant need of attention from her.

Furthermore, as the play continues this need of attention grows with

the facts of financial difficulties, the pregnancy of Mary (daughter)

and also her son’s, Johnny, death in the end.

O’Casey clearly shows that Juno certainly has her work cut out for

her, 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 making

all the meals, going to buy the groceries, doing any form of house

work and looking after the family in general. For example, on page 8

she says, “I killin’ meself workin’,” and also on page 12 she says,

“Your poor wife slavin’ to keep the bit in your mouth…” these two

references show just how hard Juno works to keep her family happy and

alive. This is not made any easier when Mr. Boyle spends any money

Juno has saved, in hope for any decent future for the family, on

alcohol in the local pub. Therefore Juno cannot afford any type of

luxuries for herself as she definitely does deserve it. The poverty is

evident on page 12 in Juno’s comment to Mr. Boyle, “eat your

breakfast… it may be the last you’ll get for I don’t know where the

next one is goin to come from.” But even this will not cause concern

for Juno’s principles when on page six we learn that Juno is against

Trade Unions, “When the employers sacrifice wan victim, the Trade

Unions go wan betther be sacrificin’ a hundred.” Then Mary tells her

that, “a principle’s a principle”, but Juno stays realistic and thinks

well it’s all good and well having principles – if you can afford

them. She is the one who seems to keep the family as a unit and this

is evidently shown when Juno says, ‘I don’t know what any o’ yous ud

do without your ma’. Juno is a well respected member of the family and

might even be superior to Mr. Boyle and Joxer, a family friend,

because when the pair is talking on page nine, Mrs. Boyle enters and

both are said to be ‘stupefied’. After this, she offers him an egg,

and he makes the excuse that he’s in a desperate hurry – this may be