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The Lonesome West

Leaving Certificate Notes & Study Guide (O)

CONTENTS
1) Summary& Plot 2) Characters & Relationships 3) Key Moments 4) Key Themes 5) Stage & Setting 6) Language 7) Sample Exam Questions

The Lonesome West

Leaving Certificate Notes & Study Guide (O)

ChARACTERS & RELATIONSHIPS


COMMENT ON: What characters: DO, SAY AND THINK How other characters describe them How other characters act around and towards them

Valene and Coleman seem to hate each other, but also have many things in common. They share a similar sense of black humour, along with many other traits: They argue over very trivial matters, such as a bag of Tayto crisps They lack women in their lives and this frustration leads to bitterness and the threat of violence Both brothers have a negative attitue towards the rest of the villagers (a pack of vultures) They can be very disrespectful to Father Welsh They are both unhappy with their lives They are very unpolitically correct (homophobic etc.) virgin feckin gayboy, darkies They are both spiteful and seem to enjoy antagonsing (provoking) each other Both brothers lack empathy (the ability to understand others feelings), especially in regard to the suffering of others e.g. they dont seem overly upset at Father Welshs death, and are more concerned with what food was served at funerals than the sadness of death.

CHARACTERISATION

Petty Manipulative Miserly Religious? Lonely

Valene

Murderer/ Hot-headed Immoral? Bitter Lonely

Valene clearly has the upper hand in their relationship. He manipulated the

Coleman

circumstances of his fathers murder to make sure that Coleman would give him his half of his fathers money (he promised not to tell the police that Coleman murdered him). He is also very mean when it comes to his possessions and money (He marks everything with a V ... hed steal the shite from a burning pig). He seems, on the surface at least to be religious (he buys a lot of figurines). Is this backed up in any way by his own behaviour?

The Lonesome West

Leaving Certificate Notes & Study Guide (O)

Coleman is, as a result of Valenes blackmail, under Valene s power. This leads to further tension and bitterness. For instance, he melts Valenes figurines in the stove. However, we hear of a softer side to Coleman when he tells of how he did love Alison O Hoolihan. His opportunity to marry her was scuppered when Valene shoved a pencil down her mouth (She went to hospital and ended up marrying the doctor). Valene says he did this on purpose. Was this out of spite or because Valene could not sand to be alone? Towards the end of the play both brothers try to reconcile by confessing to how they have wronged each other in the past. This was a suggestion of Father Welshs and they seem to want to do something good in his memory. However, they once again fall into fighting. It seems that it is impossible for them to forgive and get on. Girleen is the only female in the play (the brothers mother is, significantly, never even mentioned). This highlights the extent to which the area of

Clever / Shrewd Flirtatious Manipulative Wild Irish Cailn Naive Dreamer?

Girleen

Points To Ponder
Do you agree that despite all their fighting Valene and Coleman need, and depend on, each other? (In other words, they have nothing else in their lives worth living for and would be lonely without each other). Which brother does most of the provoking?

Leenane, like many rural areas in Ireland areas, is such a lonely place. Valenes and Colemans sexual desires focus solely on her. However, her liveliness and sexuality light up an otherwise drab stage and setting. She also appears to be the only character with dreams and hopes in the play. She believes in the possibility of happiness. In scene four she consoles Fr. Welsh: At least when youre still here (alive) theres the possivbility of happiness... Maybe this is because she is also the youngest character in the play. Her life is still ahead of her, whereas the others are older and seem to have given up on their dreams. Girleen seems to be in love with a priest, Fr. Welsh. What does girleen see in Fr. Welsh? Is he a way to escape the misery of life in Leenane? The fact that she focuses, unrealistically, her affections on a priest suggests that there are very limited options open to Girleen in Leenane, in terms of suitable partners. Fr. Welsh stands out against the immoral and rough Valene and Coleman.

The Lonesome West

Leaving Certificate Notes & Study Guide (O)

Girleen is also a very entrepreneurial and shrewd character. She uses her sexuality as a weapon to take advantage of Valene and Coleman she makes money by selling them Poteen (although she reveals later she wanted to use this money to buy Fr. Welsh a present). So, there is a purpose to her flirting she is not simply the village slut.

Fr. Welsh clearly does act professionaly in his role as a priest. He tells the others of confessions he has heard, and he also drinks and curses. He seems to have been driven to drink. Was he always this way or did Leenane do this to him? He seems to have lost hope and has many crises of faith when it is his role as priest to offer comfort and consolation to those around him. His influence is minimal. Again, it could be argued that this is a reflection of a changing Ireland. He seems to have made it his mission in life to reconcile Valene and Coleman. In his letter / suicide note he hopes that if this happens he will in some way feel that he has done something useful in his life. Does he see himself as a Jesus Christ figure here, suffering and dying for the sins of others? Of course, suicide is seen as a sin by the Church, so he also trying to balance the books by doing one good deed. Fr. Welsh is also, in some ways, very self-absorbed (too oncerned with his own problems). He cannot seem to see that Girleen cared for him, or that she was attracted to him. Earlier in the play he comments on Tom Hanlons suicide that he killed himself because he had no one to tell him that his life was worth living: Where were his friends when he needed them in this this decent world? He later kills himself, blind to the fact that, unlike Tom Hanlon, he actually had someone in the shape of Girleen to support and reassure him.

Points To Ponder
Is Girleen the strongest character in the play? Did you sympathise with her when she reacted badly to Father Welshs letter and suicide?

Pathetic Priest or a Martyr? Corrupted By His Surroundings? Unfit To Be A Priest? Self-absorbed Stereotype or Reality?

Fr. Welsh

Points To Ponder
Fr. Welsh is a priest who has lost his way, and he is keenly aware of this. He feels a strong sense of guilt that he has been powerless to stop any of the murders in Leenane. Worse, he isnt respected by his parishoners (Valene and Coleman swear around him and can never seem to remember if his name is Walsh or Welsh). Does this represent the dwindling respect for the Catholic Church in Ireland? Does Fr. Welsh blame Leenane for his own faults? Is Fr. Welsh a good Christian but a bad priest?

The Lonesome West

Leaving Certificate Notes & Study Guide (O)

Key Moments
Fr. Welshs Soliliquy (Scene 5)
Soliloquy: a dramatic speech by one character speaking aloud while on

Reaction To Fr. Welshs Death

All of the characters react diffently to Fr. Welshs letter and death. The two brothers immediate reaction to news of Fr. Welshs death (relayed to them by Girleen) is notable in that they do not seem very upset. In fact, the scene closes with them laughing that his real name is Roderick! Does this tell us that they are heartless human beings or that they do not have the emotional maturity to deal with such a serious matter i.e. they joke about it because, as men, sensitive issues make them feel uncomfortable? They do, however, decide to take Fr. Welshs advice and confess all their wrongs to each other. Does this show that they had some regard for him after all? Or do they do this out of guilt for how they treated him in life? Or do they genuinely want to reconcile their differences? As we see, this initial sense of goodwill soon turns into a fight, where they try to compete to see who has done the worst things to each other! Girleen, on the other hand, is clearly distressed at Fr. Welshs death and hurt that she was not even mentioned in the letter. She cuts heart pendant and chain (that she bought Fr. Welsh) in two to show her anger and pain. Valene and Coleman predict that she will end up in a mental hospital, but again, neither of them seem to show much understanding for what she is going through.

stage alone. This dramatic device allows the character to reveal his or her inner thoughts to the audience.

Fr. Welshs solioquy allows to see us to see inside the heart and mind of Fr.Welsh. He reads out his letter and seems to want to make a difference in the lives of his parishoners by persuading Valene and Coleman to confess and forgive each otherss sins against each other. Do you think he really believes he can reconcile the brothers? Towards the end of the letter he says ... I have faith in ye. You woudnt be letting me down now, would ye? How would the brothers be letting him down? Is he trying to save his own soul by reconciling the two brothers? Suicide is seen as wrong by the Church, so is he trying to balance things out with one last throw of the dice, or is he genuinely concerned? Significantly, he does not mention Girleen in what is essentially a suicide note. Does this show that he does not see Girleen as an important part of his life?

Points To Ponder
If Coleman, Valene or Girleen had a soliloquy in the play, what would they have said, do you think?

The Lonesome West

Leaving Certificate Notes & Study Guide (O)

KEY Themes
Theme:
Basically, what the work (poetry, novel, play, film etc.) is about. The theme is the main abstract idea. While the main action of the work is described in

Appearance V Reality:
Our first impression from the props (the objects on the stage) would be that Valene and Coleman are religious. For instance, we see a religious figurines and a crucifix. However, their words and actions show is the very unchristian reality: fighting, swearing, murder, meanness. Do you think McDonagh is commenting on certain parts of Irish society as a whole? i.e. we like to appear Christian but the reality is much uglier. If so, do you think this is fair? Girleen, at the beginning, appears to be flirtatious and tough but we soon discover that she is a shrewd person with real feelings (e.g. her reaction to Fr. Welshs death). In terms of the setting of rural Ireland we could say that for many it is seen as peaceful paradise the opposite to the noise and crime of the city. However, in The Lonesome West Mcdonagh shows us that the reality is much different. It is a lonely, depressing and violent place.

concrete terms (e.g. A poor boy goes to the city and becomes rich) the theme of the work will be described in more abstract terms (e.g. love, death,
suffering, the transience of life, hope, friendship etc). The author may state the theme directly, but it usually emerges indirectly through recurring ideas, metaphors, symbols, characters and action. A work will usually have more than one theme. Adj. Thematic.

Isolation / Loneliness Sibling Rivalry Appearance V Reality

Points to Ponder
Which is worse: to be completely isolated or to live with someone you despise? Do the brothers have any real point to their lives i.e. why bother going on living if the world is full of violence and despair What consolation, if any, does religion offer in the play? Why do we often laugh at terrible scenes in the play? Is life a tragedy or a comedy to McDonagh, or a mixture of both?

The Lonesome West


Suffering Death / Suicide Violence Religion

The Lonesome West

Leaving Certificate Notes & Study Guide (O)

Stage & Setting


The stage is the kitchen/living room of Valene and Colemans old farmhouse in Leenane, Galway. It reflects a bachelors existence: it is basic and untidy with no feminine touches to light up the room. There is also a shotgun, some religious figurines, a crucifix, a stove and a photo of a dog. Even before we meet them we discover much about the characters of Valene and Coleman (violent, religious?) and are introduced to objects which will have a further significance later in the play. In many ways the poverty of the stage represents the deeper poverty of their existence. The setting of Leenane in Co. Galway (The murder capital of Europe) is important. The title of the play describes it as a lonesome place, not beautiful or wild as we might expect from a tourist brochure. Thus, straightaway, we see the west of Ireland in a negative rather than a positive light. Late we discover that it has no opportunities and has few women. It is a lonely, depressing place where violence and suicide are common. It is not a place where one can find happiness.

Language
The characters in The Lonesome West speak with a west of Ireland dialect and accent. They sprinkle their conversation with Irish words such as feck. They also swear a lot, often inventing their own curses ya bitch-feck! They say outrageous things and do not seem to care who they offend.

Points to Ponder
Did you find the way the characters spoke amusing? How much did the language of the play contribute to your enjoyment of The Lonesome West as a whole? Do you think some people would find the language of the play offensive e.g. calling people from Pakistan Pakis? Do you think the language is realistic or over the top?

Points to Ponder
At the close of the play the light fades from the room and finally lingers on the crucifix and the letters. Comment on the significance of this.

The Lonesome West

Leaving Certificate Notes & Study Guide (O)

Sample exam questions


1. 1. (a) Having studied the play The Lonesome West, do you think Fr. Welsh was a hero or a coward? Explain your answer. (10) What is your opinion of Girleen? Explain your answer. (10) (c) 2. Coleman and Valene may not get on, but neither can live without the other. Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. (10) 3. Answer ONE of the following: (Each part carries 30 marks) (i) (i) The Lonesome West shows us the true side of Ireland. What do you think of this view of the play? Give reasons for your answer, supporting them by reference to the text. OR OR (ii) (ii) What character would you like to play in The Lonesome West? Say how you would play the part, and how you would like the audience to react to your character. The language used in The Lonesome West is so vulgar that it is unsuitable for study by Leaving Certificate students. Discuss this view, referring to the language of the play in your answer. I did not enjoy studying this play because Write a piece about the play, The Lonesome West, beginning with one of the following statements: I enjoyed studying this play because ... 2. Answer ONE of the following: (Each part carries 30 marks) Describe one comic scene from the play and say why, in your opinion, it was so funny. (10) (a) From your reading of the play, what do you think Girleen sees in Fr. Welsh? (10) (b) Did you feel any sympathy for Valene and/ or Coleman at any time during the play? Give reasons for your answer, based on your knowledge of the text. (10)

(b)

The Lonesome West

Leaving Certificate Notes & Study Guide (O)

1.

(a)

How does the relationship between Valene and Coleman change after their fathers death?

1.

(a) Describe how Valene and Coleman respond to Fr. Welshs death. (10) (b) Do you think that McDonagh represents people from the west of Ireland fairly in the play? Explain your answer. (10)

(10)
(b) Write a brief description of an event in the play that shows clearly the type of person Valene is. (10) Describe and comment on how Valene , Coleman, and Girleen each react to Fr. Welshs letter and death. (10)

2. 3.

Do you like Girleen? Explain your answer with reference to the text. (10) Answer ONE of the following: [Each part carries 30 marks] (i) Write a piece beginning with one of the following statements: I feel sorry for Valene and Coleman because ... I never really liked Fr. Welsh because ... Your response should be based on your understanding of the play. OR (ii) Choose the word you think best describes this play: Tragic Comic Tragi-comic (a mixture of the above) Explain your answer, based on your knowledge of the play.

2.

3.

Answer ONE of the following: (Each part carries 30 marks)

(i)

Imagine that you are a journalist. Write a short newspaper article describing the events surrounding Fr. Welshs death. OR

OR (iii) Imagine that Coleman decides to move away to a different country and stops speaking to Valene. Write the letter he might write to Valene in Leenane years later.

(ii)

The Lonesome West is more depressing than it is funny. To what extent to you agree with the above statement? Support your answer by reference to the play.

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