Act Two Scene One- Liam Scuab comes to plead with Mike and Mena

Liam Scuab has come to the house looking for Sive but Mena informs him that Sive is not there despite the fact that he saw her bike in the yard. Mena warns Liam that he is not wanted in the house and that there will be consequences if Mike sees him there. Liam says that he doesn’t care.

Liam tells Mena that he is in love with Sive and she laughs at the notion. Mike enters and Mena tells him that Liam refused to go for her. Liam tells them that he wants to see Sive and he also says that he has heard that Sive is to be married to Sean Dota. Mike and Mena deny this but he says that he has seen Thomasheen and Sean Rua visiting several times in the last few days. Liam tells them that Sean Dota is boasting about how he will warm Sive’s bed very soon. Mike again denies that this is the case. “There is no truth at all to it, man.” 

Liam refuses to believe Mike and says that it is the talk of the parish and the story is being told in every pub in the county. Mike is angry at this and threatens Liam. Liam pleads with them and says that he will stay away until Sive is a woman. But he begs them, “Do not give her to that rotting old man with his gloating eyes and trembling hands.”

Mena tries to deflect from the argument by saying, “wasn’t it one of your breed that blackened her mother’s name, wasn’t it?” Liam tries to use religion to sway their opinion and asks them to think of Jesus on the cross. “Ye must know that a day will dawn for all of us when an account must be given.”

Mena takes a knife from the dresser and tells Liam that she will open him if he continues to vex her. Liam exits with a parting shot, “You’ll live to remember this night.”

Questions:

1. What is Sean Dota telling people about the possible match with Sive?
2. How do we know that Liam truly loves Sive from this scene?
3. Why do you think that Mike denies that the match is taking place?
4. How does Liam try to make them see sense?
5. How does the playwright use foreshadowing in this scene?