The Playboy of the Western World: A Comedy by J.M. SyngeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Confession :I changed the rating from a 4 to a 5 because, days after reading the play, and after narrating it to my Mum on our morning walk talkathon session, I realised that I love this play! It's undoubtedly my favourite tragicomedy so far!
Aristotle described tragicomedy as a story which may end happily for some and in sadness for others. This play fits in this definition as perfectly as a glove!
To avoid spoilers, I'm leaving the comic elements for the readers to discover and enjoy! The tragic elements (hints only!) include a tyrannical father, a tormented son, and a woman losing her chance at true love because of her foolishness and probably ending up with a spineless fellow.
However, the defining element of the tragicomedy is the degradation of the moral fibre of the society, expressed satirically by Synge, who subtly points out that we live in a world where innocence is a far more contemptible crime than an act of violence. A murderer thus, is considered brave and eulogised while an innocent man is believed to be weak and is criticised.
So, overall verdict, you ask? Oh, go read it already! It's completely worth it!
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment