What do you think?
Rate this book
The Complete Plays of John M. Synge
This volume includes the complete texts of all the plays by J.M. Synge. Produced at the Abbey Theater which Synge founded. Represents one of the major dramatic achievements of the 20th century.
Includes:
The Playboy of the Western World
Riders to the Sea
In the Shadow of the Glen
The Well of the Saints
The Tinker's Wedding
Deirdre of the Sorrows
Includes:
The Playboy of the Western World
Riders to the Sea
In the Shadow of the Glen
The Well of the Saints
The Tinker's Wedding
Deirdre of the Sorrows
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1912
8 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Synge
353books96followersEdmund John Millington Synge (pronounced /sɪŋ/) was an Irish playwright, poet, prose writer, and collector of folklore. He was one of the cofounders of the Abbey Theatre. He is best known for the play The Playboy of the Western World, which caused riots during its opening run at the Abbey theatre. Synge wrote many well known plays, including "Riders to the Sea", which is often considered to be his strongest literary work.
Although he came from an Anglo-Irish background, Synge's writings are mainly concerned with the world of the Roman Catholic peasants of rural Ireland and with what he saw as the essential paganism of their world view.
Although he came from an Anglo-Irish background, Synge's writings are mainly concerned with the world of the Roman Catholic peasants of rural Ireland and with what he saw as the essential paganism of their world view.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 17, 2022
These are all six of JM Synge's plays, except for I think a single social realist play that nobody liked and was forgotten. The plays here are all consistent, taking place in Irish villages among low-class people and reflecting the vicissitudes and dialects common to such a bloc, often set directly in the beloved Aran Islands where he had originally heard most of these tales. From this basis, he includes all the trappings of authentic tragedy -- the deeply Greek-like dirge of the Riders to the Sea and the obvious oedipal elements of Playboy of the Western World, to be sure, but also the persistent Christ symbolism through Playboy and the comedic 'resurrection' of Shadow of the Glen, as well as the obscure Catholic anxieties of the Tinker's Wedding -- a common motif in the Irish folk spirit, given the slightly forced introduction of Christian elements into the Irish organon of myths. While playboy Christy's messianic ineptitude or the obviously immanent and corrupt priestly moralization of the Tinker's Wedding satirize the Catholic church, it's fairly evident from the overwhelming force of the looming Christ-symbols suggest a permanently stuck nature of the Irish culture which Synge appears to present without commentary.
The only play that I don't think succeeds fully is his version of the Deirdre tale, another of which Yeats wrote at the same time. Whereas Yeats' attempts a more unhinged, schizofrenetic presentation of the lovers' drama trying to build a psychodramatic farce about the relationship between the purity of poesie and the fatality innate to romantic passion, Synge's presents a much more restrained tale with naturalized setting and dialogue, and evidently less interest in the mythopaeic symbols. Rather, his tale is almost deflationary, depicting the folklore characters not very differently in dialect or psychology from the rural peasants of his others plays. The disparity between the versions seems indicative of the scope of the Irish theatrical revival in spearhead here, both seeking to exploit the convolutions of Irish myth and the unfiltered spirit of the average Irish; Yeats uses this as basis for a potent new romanticism whereas Synge seeks a more Hauptmann-like realism that relies on already-present dialect and folk notions. This is probably what makes his plays much more interesting to read than Yeats', in that there are no pretentions about metaphysical questions of poetry or social impetus towards theatre, but rather pure works of language and cultural narrative, partaking in the same natural humor that Joyce was so proud to have channeled in Ulysses.
The only play that I don't think succeeds fully is his version of the Deirdre tale, another of which Yeats wrote at the same time. Whereas Yeats' attempts a more unhinged, schizofrenetic presentation of the lovers' drama trying to build a psychodramatic farce about the relationship between the purity of poesie and the fatality innate to romantic passion, Synge's presents a much more restrained tale with naturalized setting and dialogue, and evidently less interest in the mythopaeic symbols. Rather, his tale is almost deflationary, depicting the folklore characters not very differently in dialect or psychology from the rural peasants of his others plays. The disparity between the versions seems indicative of the scope of the Irish theatrical revival in spearhead here, both seeking to exploit the convolutions of Irish myth and the unfiltered spirit of the average Irish; Yeats uses this as basis for a potent new romanticism whereas Synge seeks a more Hauptmann-like realism that relies on already-present dialect and folk notions. This is probably what makes his plays much more interesting to read than Yeats', in that there are no pretentions about metaphysical questions of poetry or social impetus towards theatre, but rather pure works of language and cultural narrative, partaking in the same natural humor that Joyce was so proud to have channeled in Ulysses.
July 21, 2013
Synge's plays are drawn from his experiences as he travelled Ireland, but they aren't simply transcriptions of incidents. Rather, a story he heard or a character he met served as inspiration. Playboy is a perfect example. But it isn't their origins that make the plays work. It's Synge's way with them. Playboy was such a fresh handling of the idealized western life, and there was outrage in Dublin when the play opened. Synge didn't just give audiences what they wanted and what they already had seen. His plays have a freshness still, and they aren't just period pieces. They can still speak.
November 16, 2007
I first read these plays as a freshman at Edinboro University of PA whe I was cast in the Playboy of the Western World. I'm returning to the book now mostly for Riders to the Sea, which is haunting, and beautiful. I think it has great possibility as source material for Akropolis Performance Lab. Very ritualized and musical.
April 20, 2007
Lyrical, emotional, heart-breakingly wonderful... as only Irish drama can be. I've thought about the plays in this book long after reading them.
October 5, 2014
Takes you there, in time and place. Worth the praise.
March 8, 2016
Synge was, is, one of the great Irish playwrights. Gorgeous, heart-breaking, funny, lyrical wonderful stuff.
July 30, 2021
People actually got killed over Playboy of the Western World
December 21, 2020
The Playboy of the Western World and Deirdre of the Sorrows were my favorites.
March 30, 2025
I was planning to just read Dierdre of the Sorrows, but decided to read all of them (some re-reads), except Playboy of the Western World, which I just read earlier this month. I continue to love Riders to the Sea most of all, and it remains one of favorite dramas of any author. While I find the comedy of In the Shadow of the Glen, The Well of the Saints and The Tinker's Wedding more enjoyable than most comedies that rely on word-play and clever wit, I found the tragic/dramatic moments of them even more interesting. As to Dierdre of the Sorrows, having just read I appreciate the more natural, realistic portrayal of these characters, as if they had been real people (us never knowing whether they were entirely mythical, or may have had some basis in history, especially given the similarity to other myths such as Tristan and Iseult, for example). As with others, though, I too do not think Synge is entirely successful at providing a convincing motive for Dierdre and Naisi to return to Ireland, knowing what was likely to happen.
But all of these should be wonderful options for small or academic companies to perform, so that they return to the public consciousness (along with some of 's plays as well.
But all of these should be wonderful options for small or academic companies to perform, so that they return to the public consciousness (along with some of 's plays as well.
December 24, 2019
Proof that really, only Playboy is worth reading.
June 17, 2020
Lots of language
July 7, 2020
Lots of local color from Ireland.
October 24, 2024
Odlicne drame velikog irskog dramatičara. Veoma inspirativno za prpućavanje irskog mentaliteta, pogotovu ljudi sa zapadne obale
August 5, 2024
Pretty astounding. McDonagh steals from all of it (no complaints!)
Favorite is definitely The Well of the Saints.
Favorite is definitely The Well of the Saints.
October 29, 2011
I read this collection as part of a class on Irish Revival Literature. Out of the five assigned plays (we didn't do Tinker's Wedding, though I did read it on my own), I'd have to say "Playboy of the Western World" and "Well of the Saints" were my favorites; they just struck me as more interesting than some of the others. If you're studying theatre or just enjoy reading plays for fun, I'd suggest you check the plays of Synge out, if only for "Playboy" and its significance to drama. For the curious, the plays fall into the following categories/genres:
In the Shadow of the Glen: a tragicomedy
Riders to the Sea: tragedy
The Tinker's Wedding: a comedy
The Well of the Saints: a comedy
The Playboy of the Western World: a comedy
Deirdre of the Sorrows: a tragedy
One could argue that "Well of the Saints" and "Playboy" are actually tragicomedies, but I don't think there's really enough tragedy in either to classify them as such. Anyhow, hope this helps!
In the Shadow of the Glen: a tragicomedy
Riders to the Sea: tragedy
The Tinker's Wedding: a comedy
The Well of the Saints: a comedy
The Playboy of the Western World: a comedy
Deirdre of the Sorrows: a tragedy
One could argue that "Well of the Saints" and "Playboy" are actually tragicomedies, but I don't think there's really enough tragedy in either to classify them as such. Anyhow, hope this helps!
January 28, 2014
Playboy of the Western World is clearly the standout play in the series, followed closely by the two one acts and The Well of the Saints. All of the plays in this book (except for Deirdre of the Sorrows) play upon a dark comedic notion that tend to show a lot about humanity, and one can appreciate how forward some of the ideas were during the early 20th century. That being said, Deirdre of the Sorrows did not do anything with that common theme found in the other plays, nor was it really that sad (the saddest play is most likely Riders to the Sea), and it stands out in no real manner. That is what really knocked it down to a 3/5 rather than a 4/5 for me, and because sometimes it takes a while for Synge to get to his point and the language can be a little too fluffy for me. I highly recommend Playboy of the Western Wrold and The Well of the Saints. They're very smart pieces.
December 3, 2024
Excellent writing by one of Ireland's masters.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.