Sive John B Keane

John B Keane John B. Keane was born in 1928 in Listowel, County Kerry and it was here that he spent his literary career, running a pub which provided him with inspiration for his characters and ideas. Keane, one of Ireland's most well known and respected literary figures, died on 30 May 2002 at the age of 73, after a long and difficult battle with cancer.

Sive - Background Sive is a play that depicts Irish rural life in the 1950s. The story is centered on an illegitimate eighteen year old girl called Sive. She lives with her uncle Mike, his wife Mena and Nanna, Mike’s mother. A local matchmaker Thomasheen decides that Sive should marry an old man called Sean Dota. Sean is rich but very old and haggard.

Sive - Background Thomasheen convinces Mike and Mena to organize the marriage of Sive to Sean Dota. They will receive two hundred pounds as soon as she marries him. Sive however is in love with a young man called Liam Scuab. Mike refuses permission for Liam to marry Sive and Mike and Mena plan to force her to marry Sean Dota.

Sive - Background The main character of the play is Sive, yet she rarely speaks in the play. We get a clear sense of how she is being used: her voice is literally drowned out by the power-hungry nature of the society in which she lives. The drama is a clear tragedy – many of the characters reveal their selfishness and greed throughout the play. Money dominates almost every line of the play, which shows us the moral of the story -- that innocent people suffer in a society that is dominated by powerful and self-absorbed people.

Cast of Characters Sive Mike Glavin (Sive’s uncle) Mena Glavin (Mike’s wife) Nanna Glavin (Mike’s mother) Thomasheen Sean Rua (the local matchmaker) Sean Dota (the man Sive is meant to marry) Liam Scuab (the man Sive wants to marry)

Questions What clues are there that Nanna doesn’t like Mena? How did Sive’s father die? Why do you think Sive wants to know about her parents? Thomasheen tries to convince Mena to marry Sive off to Sean Dota. Describe three ways he does this. Do you think Sive and Sean Dota would be a good match? Explain why or why not.

Questions What arrangement does Thomasheen make with Mena before he leaves? What does Nanna think of Thomasheen? Find a quote from the play to back up your answer. What does Mena say Mike has a great love of? What is Mike’s reaction to the planned marriage between Sive and Sean Dota? Find a quote from the play to back up your answer.

Scene Two Questions What kind of person do you think Sean Dota is? Give examples from the play to support your answer. What excuse do Mena and Thomasheen make for Sive and Sean Dota to be alone together? Why is Mike starting to come around to the idea of Sive marrying Sean Dota? What do Mena and Thomasheen plan to do to keep Sive away from Liam Scuab? What does Sive think of Sean Dota? Give examples from the play to support your answer.

Act 2 Scene 1 Questions In your opinion, why do Mena and Mike lie to Liam and say that Sive isn’t getting married? How does Liam try to persuade them to stop the marriage? What reason does Mena give Sive for Liam calling to the house? How do you think Sive feels after hearing that news? How does Mike react when Nanna tries to persuade him to stop the marriage?