Seán

Role in the Story:

Seán is Máire's brother, and like the other members of her family, he fails to offer her any real support when she is in need. He is training to be a priest.

Relationships with Other Characters:

• Máire Ní Chathasaigh: Seán judges Máire harshly for her pregnancy outside of marriage. He sees her actions as sinful and shames her for bringing disgrace upon the family.
• Bean Uí Chathasaigh: As her son, Seán is very much under his mother's influence. He follows her strict religious views and seeks to live up to the high expectations placed on him, which affects how he views Máire's situation.
• The Church: Seán is training to be a priest. This makes him even more eager to distance himself from the "shame" Máire has brought upon the family.

Key Actions in the Play:

1. Judges Máire: When Máire's pregnancy is revealed, Seán is quick to judge her, calling her actions sinful and shaming her for bringing disgrace upon their family. He shows no understanding or sympathy for the challenges Máire faces.

2. Turns His Back on Máire: Seán, like the rest of the family, turns his back on Máire when she needs him most.

3. Leaves the Priesthood: After Máire's tragic death, Seán is forced to leave his priesthood training because of the shame her actions have brought on the family. He blames her for this, rather than reflecting on his own behaviour.

Symbolism/Importance:

Seán symbolises the religious and moral judgment that was embedded in Irish society at the time. He prioritises his future as a priest over his sister's well-being. This reflects how religious values were sometimes used to justify cold, unsupportive behaviour.

Aidiachtaí

Fimíneach	Hypocritical
Leithleach	Selfish
Lag	Weak
Meata	Cowardly
Míthrócaireach	Unmerciful
Ceartaiseach	Self-righteous

1. Ceartaiseach

(Self-righteous)

• Níl Seán aon phioc níos fearr ná a mháthair nó a dheartháir. Cé go raibh sé ag tnúth le dul ag sagatóireacht, ní thaispéanann sé aon chatharnacht do Mháire.
  • Seán is no better than his mother or his brother. Although he was hoping to going into priesthood, he shows no charity for Máire.
• Aithníonn sé go bhfuil a mháthair ró-dhian ar Mháire ach ní dhéanann sé aon rud faoi. Ní sheasann sé suas dá dheirfiúr.
  • He recognises that his mother is too strict on Máire but he does nothing about it. He does not stand up for his sister.
• Nuair a thosnaíonn a mháthair ag ceistiú faoi Mháire, sceitheann sé uirthi agus deireann sé nach bhfuil sí ag glacadh le Comaineach Naofa nó ag dul chun na faoistine agus go mbíonn sí tinn go minic.
  • When his mother starts questioning him about Máire, he betrays her and says that she is not accepting Holy Communion or going to confession and that she is often sick.

2. Gan aiféala

(Without remorse)

• Bhí air éirí as an tsagartóireacht mar "ní fhéadfainn aghaidh a thabhairt ar mo chomradaithe sa choláiste".
  • He had to resign from the priesthood as "I could not face my comrades in college".

Quotes:

"Chiontaigh sí in aghaidh Dé. Ba chóir a bheith dian uirthi. Bhí an ceart ag Mam. Bhí an ceart ar fad aici."

"She sinned against God. We should be strict on her. Mam was right. She was absolutely right."