Juno and the Paycock

Sean O’Casey had to submit several plays to the Abbey Theatre, Ireland’s national theatre, before his trilogy, which includes Juno and the Paycock, was accepted. What aspects of Juno and the Paycock make it a play for the Irish people?

Explain whether O’Casey shows a clear predilection for one side of the Irish Civil War over the other (Die-hards versus Free Staters or a balanced perspective in this play).

Is there one main character in this play or are you meant to follow the four members of the Boyle family equally? Describe how your perception of the main character(s) affects your ability to sympathize as a reader.

How do the songs the characters—including Jack, Mrs. Madigan, and Joxer—sing express the events of the play?

What significance does Johnny’s vision/hallucination in Act II have on his character arc?

Juno thinks Joxer is a terrible influence on Jack. Even Jack says he’s going to give up Joxer when he receives the inheritance money. What function does Joxer play in Juno and the Paycock, and how does he influence your perception of Jack?

O’Casey chose to write this play using a Dublin dialect. How does this choice affect your understanding of the status/situation of the various characters?

Using Mary, Juno, Mrs. Tancred, and Mrs. Madigan as examples, what roles do Irish women play in the 1920s according to O’Casey? What message does he seem to be sending regarding Irish women’s roles?