29 pages • 58 minutes read
Juno and the Paycock
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Symbols & Motifs
The Tenement
The entire play takes place in the Boyle tenement, which is only two rooms large, meant for four family members. In Act II, others living in the building crowd into this space, known as the living area, which also includes a fireplace and a picture of the Virgin Mary. For a small space, it’s full of life and lived “things.” While characters come and go, this tiny home is where all the big news happens, from the news of the will to the news of Johnny’s death at the end. The living room is a common location in plays of the Realism movement. In this particular play, the tenement also represents the economic status of the Boyles—their status quo, their faux increase in wealth, and then their decline into nothingness from which they will have to rebuild their entire lives. In Act II, the opening stage direction states that “the furniture is more plentiful and of a vulgar nature” (444). Everything in Act I has been dolled up with artificial flowers, colored paper chains, and more. Then, in Act III, everything gets taken away with Mary and Juno “sitting in a darkened room” with “most of the furniture gone” (456).
“A principle’s a principle”
This is a line that Mary and Johnny speak to Juno at various moments. Mary uses it in reference to her strike and again defending Johnny’s contribution to the war effort. Johnny uses it to defend his involvement in the Irish wars. When Mary and Johnny use the phrase, they seem to express their idealism, whereas Juno’s responses to the phrase usually involve realism. There appears to be a generational divide between utopia and practicality. For example, in Act I, when Mary mentions her work strike on principle, Juno responds with her need to pay off her family’s debts. Juno says, “Instead o’ payin’ all, I’m goin’ to borry more […] what’ll he [Murphy] say when I tell him a principle’s a principle?” (436). Later in Act I, Johnny uses the phrase again to show how committed he is to Ireland only to have Juno reply that without his arm, he’s not much use to Ireland’s workforce: “Ah, you lost your best principle, me boy, when you lost your arm” (442). The irony comes into play here because fighting for principles—Johnny fighting for his belief in full independence for Ireland—means he can no longer work in Ireland and, therefore, lead a fully independent life.
The Gramophone
In Act II, the gramophone enters the characters’ lives. Juno remarks how heavy it is to carry. It’s a new and somewhat extravagant purchase to make for a working-class family. Juno also mentions the debt the family is starting to accumulate with their purchases. The literal weight of the item seems to symbolize its metaphorical weight on their growing debt. The Boyles are starting to live above their means. When Jack turns on the gramophone at the end of the act, he plays “If you’re Irish, come into the Parlour” (450). In this moment, his family and many of his neighbors are gathered to sing and share stories, almost as an extended family. Even though this moment is very representative of Irish camaraderie and traditions, “Needle” Nugent enters to tell them all of their disrespect of Irish mourning rituals during Mrs. Tancred’s son’s funeral procession. Here, there is a conflict of Irish priorities, much like there was during the Irish Civil War. In Act III, Mrs. Madigan, who earlier participated in singing at the Boyle tenement, takes the gramophone with her when Jack isn’t able to pay her back. The symbol of joy, tradition, and togetherness is gone, accelerating the decline of the Boyle family unit.
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