notes on "lonesome west"

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


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

don‟t seem overly upset at Father Welsh‟s death, and are more

concerned with what food was served at funerals than the sadness of death.

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

circumstances of his father‟s murder to make sure that Coleman would give

him his half of his father‟s 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‟ ... “he‟d 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?

Religious?

Valene

Petty

Manipulative

Miserly

Lonely

Coleman

Murderer/ Hot-headed

Immoral?

Bitter

Lonely

}

CHARACTERISATION


Coleman is, as a result of Valene‟s blackmail, under Valene‟s power.

This leads to further tension and bitterness. For instance, he melts Valene‟s

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 Welsh‟s 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.

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?

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

Leenane, like many rural areas in Ireland areas, is such a „lonely‟ place.

Valene‟s and Coleman‟s 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 you‟re still here (alive) there‟s 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.

Girleen

Clever / Shrewd

Flirtatious

Manipulative

Naive Dreamer? Wild Irish Cailín


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”.

Points To Ponder

Is Girleen the „strongest‟ character in the play?

Did you sympathise with her when she reacted badly to Father

Welsh‟s letter and suicide?

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 isn‟t 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?

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 Hanlon‟s

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

Does Fr. Welsh blame Leenane for his own faults?

Is Fr. Welsh a good Christian but a bad priest?

Fr. Welsh

Pathetic Priest or a Martyr?

Corrupted By His Surroundings?

Unfit To Be A Priest?

Self-absorbed

Stereotype or Reality?


Key Moments

Fr. Welsh’s Soliliquy (Scene 5)

Soliloquy: a dramatic speech by one character speaking aloud while on

stage alone. This dramatic device allows the character to reveal his or

her inner thoughts to the audience.

Fr. Welsh‟s 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 others‟s 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 woudn‟t 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?

Reaction To Fr. Welsh’s Death

All of the characters react diffently to Fr. Welsh‟s letter and death.

The two brothers‟ immediate reaction to news of Fr. Welsh‟s

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. Welsh‟s 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. Welsh‟s

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.


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

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.

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. Welsh‟s 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.

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

Isolation / Loneliness

Sibling Rivalry Appearance V Reality

Violence Death / Suicide

Religion Suffering


Stage & Setting

The stage is the kitchen/living room of Valene and Coleman‟s old farmhouse in

Leenane, Galway. It reflects a bachelor‟s 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.

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.

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?


Sample exam questions

1. (a) Having studied the play The Lonesome West, do you think Fr. Welsh was

a hero or a coward? Explain your answer.

(10)

(b) What is your opinion of Girleen? Explain your answer.

(10)

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) “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

(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.

1. (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)

(c) Describe one comic scene from the play and say why, in

your opinion, it was so funny. (10)


(i) Write a piece about the play, The Lonesome West, beginning

with one of the following statements:

– I enjoyed studying this play because ...

– I did not enjoy studying this play because

OR

(ii) “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.


1. (a) How does the relationship between Valene and Coleman change

after their father‟s „death‟?

(10)

(b) Write a brief description of an event in the play that shows

clearly the type of person Valene is.

(10)

2. Describe and comment on how Valene , Coleman, and Girleen

each react to Fr. Welsh‟s letter and death.

(10)


(i) Imagine that you are a journalist. Write a short

newspaper article describing the events surrounding

Fr. Welsh‟s death.

OR

(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.

1. (a) Describe how Valene and Coleman respond to Fr. Welsh‟s death. (10)

(b) Do you think that McDonagh represents people from the west of Ireland fairly

in the play? Explain your answer. (10)

2. Do you like Girleen? Explain your answer with reference to the text. (10)

3. 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.

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.

notes on "lonesome west"

Documents