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Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

The Loy

The loy, a long spade used for potato farming, represents the drudgery of Christy’s rural farming life before he arrives at the pub. The fact that Christy uses a loy as his weapon of choice represents how he turned a tool of his toil and monotony into a tool of power and rebellion. When Michael and Pegeen first learn of Christy’s crime, they ask if he shot, stabbed, or hanged his father. Learning that Christy hit his father with a loy impresses Michael and Pegeen even more, as it would have taken more strength to kill a man that way than using a more straightforward method of murder. From that point on, Christy makes sure that the loy is a central part of his story and even uses a loy from the pub when trying to kill his father for the second time. However, Christy is not successful in either attempt, suggesting he may never fully escape his previous life.

Darkness

At the beginning of the play, the darkness outside drives the plot, as Pegeen is frightened of what could be waiting in the dark and wants Shawn or Michael to stay at the pub with her. Shawn and Michael are scared of the darkness as well, as Shawn comes back into the pub when he fears a man is following him and Michael does not want to walk back to the pub from the wake alone in the dark. Widow Quin even uses the excuse of not wanting to walk home in the dark in an attempt to stay overnight at the pub. More than the darkness itself, the characters fear what unknown dangers could be hiding in the darkness. However, once Christy arrives, Pegeen’s fears subside as Christy will stay the night with her. Christy’s arrival signals the end of Pegeen’s fears and reveals that he is the hero figure they have been seeking.

The Looking-Glass

At the beginning of Act II, the morning after Pegeen and Widow Quin fight over where Christy will spend the night, Christy admires himself in a looking-glass while alone, commenting on how handsome he is, especially now that he no longer wears the dirt from his old life. He hides the looking-glass behind his back when the village girls come into the pub. By accident, Christy has stumbled into a world where people see him as a handsome, courageous hero, contrary to how he was seen by others in his home village. The looking-glass represents Christy’s newfound vanity and desire to see himself the way the villagers see him instead of how he actually is. The fact that Christy feels the need to hide the looking-glass shows that his vanity is not part of what he wants others to see.

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