The Hostage (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Brendan Behan
- First Published: 1958
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Protest
- Time of Work: 1960
- Setting: Dublin, Ireland
- Genres: Social realism, Drama, Problem play
- Subjects: 1960’s, Class conflict, Politics, Prostitution or prostitutes, Capital punishment, Nationalism, Soldiers, Ireland or Irish people, Hostages or hostage taking
- Locales: Dublin, Ireland
Characters Discussed
Patrick, a hero for the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in the 1920’s, now the caretaker of a lodging house that is a thinly disguised brothel. Pat has a tendency to exaggerate his service during the 1920’s, during which he lost a leg and was imprisoned by the British. Scornful of the current IRA (and most aspects of contemporary life), he uses his leg as an excuse for drinking as much and doing as little work as possible. He retains, however, a genuine affection and respect for Monsewer, who was his leader in the earlier independence movement. His cynical...
[The entire page is 585 words long]
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