Key Character Quotations
Mena's obsession with money drives the entire tragedy of the play. Her famous line "Take heed of a man with a piece of property" shows how she values wealth over love when choosing Sive's husband. This materialistic attitude reflects the harsh economic realities of rural Irish life, where financial security often trumped personal happiness.
Liam emerges as the moral voice throughout the drama, desperately trying to save Sive from a loveless marriage. When he pleads "If ye know God ye must think of this terrible auction," he's comparing Sive's arranged marriage to selling her like cattle. His religious language shows how he believes Mike and Mena are betraying their Christian values.
Mike's internal struggle becomes clear when he admits "Sive has no wish for it." Despite being complicit in the arrangement, he recognises his niece's suffering and knows deep down that forcing her to marry Sean Dota is morally wrong. This quotation reveals his guilty conscience.
Quick Tip: Notice how Keane uses religious imagery and references to land/property throughout - these reflect the two main forces shaping Irish rural life at the time.
