The Playboy of the Western World

The act begins with Jimmy and Philly at the bar discussing Christy’s victories in the sporting events. His winning has cost many men a great deal of money, and their tune has changed when they discuss him. Instead of calling Christy a hero, Jimmy and Philly are annoyed with him. They believe that his success in the sporting events must be luck and complain that he is constantly bragging about killing his father.

Old Mahon enters the bar shortly after and attempts to tell the story of how Christy tried to kill him. At that moment, Widow Quin walks in, and Jimmy and Philly tell her to attend to Old Mahon. This works out perfectly for Widow Quin, who is now trying to keep up Christy’s lie herself. She coddles Old Mahon and gives him a drink, then turns back to Jimmy and Philly. She tells them that Old Mahon was “raving from his wound to-day […] rambling tale of a tinker had him destroyed. Then he heard of Christy’s deed, and he up and says it was his son had cracked his skull” (57). In pretending that Old Mahon has been making up stories, Widow Quin effectively buries the truth and maintains Christy’s hero status.