Thalia in Dublin: Some Suggestions About the Relationships Between O'Casey and Classical Comedy

Authors

James Coakley, University of Michigan
Marvin Felheim, University of Michigan

Abstract

In lieu of an abstract, the first paragraph of the essay follows:

Standard interpretations of O'Casey's early successes--The Shadow of a Gunman (1923), Juno and the Paycock (1924) and The Plough and the Stars (1926)-emphasize the remarkable combination of realism and humor, the tragicomic quality, which he achieved in these works; the prevailing attitude is also that these plays are somewhat fumbling efforts, made memorable, however, by extraordinary language and characterization. Then, with The Silver Tassie (1928), say the critics, O'Casey changed his manner and thus began to utilize the symbolism so characteristic of his later plays. So much for the easy, handbook classification of a very great dramatist.