JOHNNY BOYLE

1. JOHNNY BOYLE

2. Johnny is described as “thin, delicate and drawn, missing an arm and limping.” He has a “tremulous look of indefinite fear in his eyes.” Johnny was injured during a fight and has lost his ability to work. He is a broken shell with a hidden secret.

3. Heroism • In Johnny’s mutilated body we see the futility of heroism. It has lost him his birthright, the ability to work. He behaved as a hero in the past but betrayed his comrade Tancred. This betrayal is never explained but acts as a commentary on the fleeting quality of human heroism.

4. Man V Child • For Mary he is a man of steel, “He stuck to his principles an’ no matther how you may argue, ma, a principle’s a principle.” Even he declares, “I’d do it agen ma, I’d do it agen.” However, he can’t even bare to hear about the killing. “Is there nothin’ betther to be talkin’ about but the killin’ o’ people?” He still looks to his mother for comfort and protection.

5. Self pity/ Coward • He betrays his fear at every move and flinches at every knock. His reaction to the other characters show the disintegration of a character under enormous strain. He believes that everyone is against him and declares, “ not one o’ yous have any thought for me.” He prefers to hide in the shadows and disguise his fear with anger.

6. Impotence • Johnny cannot even stop the furniture from being taken but must send for his father who he has just been reviling. Johnny has become useless through the loss of his arm. Ironically, his body is recognisable in the end by the lack of arm- his symbol of heroism.

7. Relationship with Family • He accuses the rest of the family of shaming him, his father for being friendly with Joxer, Mary for “burnin’ to tell everyone of the shame you’ve brought on us.” He even attacks Juno for giving way to Boyle over money.

8. Visions and Religion • Johnny imagines that he sees Tancred's body, helping to reveal his defensiveness, “Oh, why did he look at me like that…it wasn’t my fault that he was done in.” He also shows his cowardice, “keep him away from me.” He thinks that a voltive light, a picture, a few snatches of prayer, can protect him from the consequences of his sin. Ironically the light and the statue that he relies on turn into a vision of his sin, the scarlet Sacred Heart into the bloody breast of Tancred.

9. In the end… • We see him transformed from son and brother to “Quarther Masther Boyle.” He betrayed Tancred – “you gave him away to the gang that sent him to his grave.” Faced with the summons he crumbles, “haven’t I done enough for Ireland?” Our pity for Johnny is not of a noble character with a fatal flaw, but for a fallible one, caught up in a corrupt system. He represents the maimed youths of Ireland, cheated of their right to work and live sensibly.