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386 The twentieth century: 1900–45<br />

statements of identity and consciousness – despite, and perhaps even<br />

because of, the stir they caused.<br />

Juno and the Paycock (1924) is O’Casey’s best-known play (Juno<br />

being the wife of the ‘peacock’, Jack Boyle), with its Dublin tenement<br />

setting, and the tragedy of its inhabitants’ self-deceptions. The famous<br />

statement of chaos – ‘Th’ whole whole in a terrible state o’ chassis’ –<br />

is one of the most poignant final lines in modern drama.<br />

JUNO Give your hat an’ stick to Jack, there . . . sit down, Mr Bentham<br />

. . . no, not there . . . in th’ easy chair be the fire . . . there,<br />

that’s betther. Mary’ll be out to you in a minute.<br />

BOYLE [solemnly] I seen be the paper this mornin’ that Consols<br />

was down half per cent. That’s serious, min’ you, an’ shows<br />

the whole counthry’s in a state o’ chassis.<br />

MRS BOYLE What’s Consols, Jack?<br />

BOYLE Consols? Oh, Consols is – oh, there’s no use tellin’ women<br />

what Consols is – th’ wouldn’t undherstand.<br />

BENTHAM It’s just as you were saying, Mr Boyle . . .<br />

[MARY enters, charmingly dressed.]<br />

BENTHAM Oh, good evening, Mary; how pretty you’re looking!<br />

MARY [archly] Am I?<br />

BOYLE We were just talkin’ when you kem in, Mary; I was tellin’<br />

Mr Bentham that the whole counthry’s in a state o’ chassis.<br />

MARY [to BENTHAM] Would you prefer the green or the blue ribbon<br />

round me hair, Charlie?<br />

MRS BOYLE Mary, your father’s speakin’.<br />

BOYLE [rapidly] I was jus’ tellin’ Mr Bentham that the whole<br />

counthry’s in a state o’ chassis.<br />

MARY I’m sure you’re frettin’, da, whether it is or no.<br />

The Shadow of a Gunman (1923) and The Plough and the Stars<br />

(1926) were the last plays O’Casey wrote in Ireland. The latter caused<br />

riots when it was staged at the Abbey Theatre. O’Casey moved to<br />

England, where he continued to write plays but without reaching the<br />

success of his earlier works. His six-volume autobiography, published<br />

between 1939 and 1954, remains one of the most valuable insights<br />

into the period of Irish liberation that inspired his best work.

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