MINOR CHARACTERS

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MINOR CHARACTERS
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Joxer

• Content to live in Boyle's shadow
• True instinct is self-preservation goes on roof
  to escape Juno.
• Scrounger who lives off others
• Backs up any point that Boyle makes Youre
  afther takin the words out o me mouth.
• Own ideas are unoriginal and shot down by Boyle.
• Reveals true feelings when Boyle abandons him I
  have to laugh every time I look at the deep sea
  sailor an a row on a river ud make him
  sea-sick!
• Even betrays Boyles feelings on work lookin
  for work, an prayin to God he wont get it.
• Act III he becomes sinister and menacing
  conspires with Nugent and cross examines Boyle
  about will.
• At end calls him Jacky Boyle, Esquire, infernal
  rogue an damned liar.
• However, will still go drinking with Boyle and
  spend his last sixpence.

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Bentham

• He is the catalyst in the play, the thin, lank
  strip of a Mickey Dazzler.
• Brings news of will.
• Precipitator of Johnnys hysterical vision.
• Brings about Marys downfall.
• Looks like Marys chance to escape her
  circumstances. Lift her out of her class with
  his politeness.
• But finds out about pregnancy and abandons her.
• Cant face family at end to explain about the
  will.
• Contrast with Jerrys down to earth Labour
  Ideals.
• All his distinguishing features are external
  yellow gloves, smart clothes and a walking stick.
• OCasey seems to be mocking his superficiality.

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Jerry

• Jerry is the personification of the Labour
  Movement.
• Knowledge, energy and rhetoric to lead his
  co-workers but not the wider compassion and
  understanding.
• See his Labour concern in comical attempt to find
  Boyle a job.
• People admire him We all know Devine knows a
  little more than the rest of ushes a good boy,
  sober, able to talk an all that.
• Contrasted with Bentham Jerry believin in
  nothin an Bentham believin in everythin.
• Until his last scene with Mary he seems like a
  man of true worth, but tragically his humanity is
  just as lacking as Benthams.
• In final scene declares his love is greater and
  deeper than ever but finds out about baby and
  declares, Have you fallen as low as that?
• Another principle in the play has proved
  unworkable in practice.

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Mrs Tancred

• Mrs Tancred is a reflection of Junos later
  character as a bereaved mother her story is a
  dramatic parallel.
• Symbol of suffering womanhood but also a real
  person.
• Until entrance sons death seemed impersonal a
  statistic.
• Establishes the human as opposed to the political
  significance of death.
• Whats the pains I suffered bringin him into
  the world to carry him to the cradle, to the
  pains Im sufferin now, carryin him out o the
  world to bring him to his grave!
• Makes the point that the dead boys are mothers
  sons, not Diehards and Freestaters.
• See her through Junos eyes in two ways
  Diehard mother. Allowing house to be used
  brought about fate. As a sister, suffering the
  loss of their sons.- Humanitarian message.