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Christopher Mahon (Christy)

The protagonist of the play and the titular “playboy.” A young man from a rural farming village in Ireland, Christy presents himself as heroic and brave and ingratiates himself with the village women. He enjoys his status as a celebrity among the villagers and indulges in his vanity, though he tries to hide this trait from his admirers. His use of poetic, lyrical language and storytelling is the main quality that the women admire. However, before his arrival at the pub, Christy had been seen as submissive and weak under the tyranny of his father.

Read an in-depth analysis of Christopher Mahon (Christy).

Margaret Flaherty (Pegeen)

The twenty-year-old daughter of Michael Flaherty. A wild-looking beauty, Pegeen is known to be more assertive and temperamental than the other girls in the village. Though engaged to be wed to Shawn Keogh and actively planning their wedding, Pegeen seems indifferent to him and longs for a partner who can act as her protector. Pegeen emotionally responds to Christy’s poetic language, hinting that she has emotional needs that are not being met in her relationship with Shawn.

Read an in-depth analysis of Margaret Flaherty (Pegeen).

Widow Quin

A village woman of about thirty years of age who is known to have killed her husband. A romantic foil for Pegeen, Widow Quin is greedy yet shrewd and tries to help both Shawn and Christy over the course of the play. While intrigued by and attracted to Christy, Widow Quin does not seem to have the need for a heroic figure, in contrast to the other villagers.

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Shawn Keogh

A young farmer as well as Pegeen’s second cousin and fiancé. Shawn is deeply religious, as evidenced by his obsession with Father Reilly’s approval, and is seen by the other villagers as cowardly. Shawn is the only person in the village who is not impressed by Christy’s story, but he is still intimidated by Christy’s arrival and fears losing Pegeen to him.

Read an in-depth analysis of Shawn Keogh.

Old Mahon

Christy Mahon’s father. Christy describes Old Mahon as a bully who is often drunk and violent. When Old Mahon appears, he is determined to seek revenge on Christy for his attempted murder. However, he displays his love for Christy by stopping the villagers from turning him in to the police and seems proud of Christy’s newfound confidence by the end of the play.

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Michael James Flaherty

The owner of the village pub and Pegeen’s father. Michael is capricious and changes loyalties without much thought.

Philly Cullen

A farmer and one of Michael Flaherty’s friends. Philly shows his suspicion of Christy earlier than the other villagers.

Jimmy Farrell

A farmer and one of Michael Flaherty’s friends.

Sara Tansey

A village girl who gives Christy a gift of duck eggs from her family’s farm. Sara, along with Widow Quin, attempts to help Christy escape toward the end of the play, but he refuses her help.

Susan Brady

A village girl who gives Christy a gift of butter.

Honor Blake

A village girl who gives Christy a gift of cake.

Nelly

A village girl who gives Christy a hen for laying eggs.

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