Mike quizzes Nanna on why Pats was in the house, but she replies, “Must a mother answer to her only son? Is there no respect for old people?”
Mike is exasperated and says that it is hard trying to be a good son and a good husband, showing the difficulty he faces in trying to keep Mena happy and doing the right thing. Nanna tries to get him to see sense saying, “where is the love you used to have for Sive? …You were better than a father to her. Where is the promise you gave to her sister?“
Mike gets annoyed with Nanna and tells her not to ‘tormenting’ him. He also says that she is acting suspiciously and that she is clearly hiding something from him. Nanna says that she will tell Mike as long as he promises not to say anything to anyone. She tells him that it is a letter from Liam Scuab, in which he says goodbye to Sive. She asks Mike to give Sive the letter as she will have no access to Sive as they are watching her every move. ” Sure, there’s nothing inside in it only a last goodbye and wishing her joy for her wedding.”
Mike wants to read the letter but Nanna says that he mustn’t open the letter, as it’s a private letter for Sive. This raises the tension significantly, as Sive’s fate depends on the letter getting to her, without being opened. Nanna urges him not to read it and says that she hasn’t read it. Mike agrees not to read it and Nanna leaves the stage, with Mike staring at the letter, obviously conflicted. He leaves the letter on the mantelpiece and goes to tidy the house. As he does so, Thomasheen enters.
Thomasheen asks Mike if they have come back from town and says that he knows that Sean Dota gave them £50 to buy a dress for the wedding. Thomasheen tells Mike, “Given for Sive but the two of us know that Mena will have £40 out of the £50 for herself. ” This again highlights Mena’s greed.
As Thomasheen walks across the room, Mike takes the letter and puts it in his pocket, but is seen by Thomasheen. Thomasheen quizzes Mike about what he put in his pocket and Mike tells him that it is a letter for Sive that Pats Bocock delivered. Thomasheen is furious that Mike is considering giving the letter to Sive. He says, “You are the greatest lump of a fool, of an eejit, of a dul amu, in the seven parishes.” Thomasheen is automatically suspicious of the letter and is incredulous that Mike is willing to hand it over to Sive without checking its contents. He insists that the letter must be opened, even if it was sealed by the bishop himself.
Mike resists Thomasheen’s attempts to get him to open the letter but Thomasheen is able to snatch the letter out of Mike’s hands and opens it. However, he is unable to read it and asks Mike to read it. Mike discovers that the letter is from Liam Scuab. They read the contents of the letter, where Liam declares that he still loves Sive and can’t believe that she is marrying Sean Dota. He says that he believes that she is being forced into the marriage against her will and that he has a plan to get her out of the wedding. “Tonight when they have all gone to bed, steal away quietly and come to my house. I will be waiting there for you. We will drive straight to the city and we will be married there the first thing.
Thomasheen takes the letter and burns it over the fire. Mike is torn and is angry that he burned the letter. He says, “God direct me, but am I doing right by the girl at all?” As he is thinking this, Thomasheen tells him that Mena and Sive are back from their shopping trip.
Questions:
- How does Nanna get Mike to reconsider what he doing to Sive? What is his response?
- Why does Nanna give the letter to Mike? Is this a wise choice?
- How is Keane using dramatic irony in this scene? What effect does this have on the audience?
- Mena’s greed is once again highlighted in this scene. Where was the evidence of this? What does this suggest about the world of the text?
- Diary Entry: Imagine you are Nanna. Write the diary entry you would write after you give the letter to Mike. (Format, Facts, Feelings)
Enda's English Notes 