The Development of Sean O’Casey’s Weltanschauung

Abstract

To evaluate the world view of Sean O’Casey assumes at least two things: (1) that he had a world view, and (2) that it is worth evaluating. That he had such a view is given: we all have one. We all try to make sense of the world around us and ourselves in it. We probably don’t call it a Weltanschauung (certainly O’Casey didn’t), but there are few words that say and mean so much. Moreover, the word Weltanschauung is preferable to philosophy. A philosophy implies at least a worked-out system of dos, don’ts, laws and axioms, and O’Casey did not systemise his world in that way. To presume that O’Casey’s world view is worth studying is undoubtedly subjective. At the same time few can deny his importance to Irish drama, his impact on Irish and world literature, and his international stature as a world figure.

Th’ whole worl’s in a terrible state of chassis.

Captain Boyle in Juno and the Paycock

It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but on the contrary their existence determines their consciousness.

Karl Marx, Critique of Political Economy, Preface

Work — work — work

Till the brain begins to swim!

Work — work — work

Till the eyes are heavy and dim!

Thomas Hood, The Song of the Shirt