The development of Irish women in drama

Inhaltsangabe oder Einleitung

Even though the role of Irish women was bounded to home and family, they were seen as a symbol for Ireland’s struggle for independence. This phenomenon is also expressed in the development of the role of women in Irish drama.

This essay will examine the evolution of the idea of the Irish woman by comparing the different types of women presented in selected Irish plays, including "Cathleen Ni Houlihan" by W.B. Yeats, "The Playboy of the Western World" by J.M. Synge and "Juno and the Paycock" by Seán O´Casey.

In order to analyse the plays it is necessary to provide biographic information about the playwrights. The comparison of the plays requires a short introduction to their plot regarding the main female characters and their analysis. The evolution of the Irish women shall be discussed in the conclusion with reference to the presented plays.