Robert Olson English 101 Honors Professor Parker 09 October 10, 2011

In Shadow of a Gunman, we see two more educated characters manipulate the lesser educated around them, in attempts to seduce the opposite sex, and push forward their personal agendas. From the beginning, Davoron and Seamus are debating on the worthiness and the purpose of a poet. On page 6, Davoren mentions that Shelley flung a few stones through stained-glass windows but Seamus replies He wasnt the first nor he wont be the last to do that, but the stained-glass windowsmore than ever of them are here still, and Shelley is doing a jazz dance down below. Clearly, Davoren believes that part of a poets calling has to do with stirring things up and challenging authority; Seamus recognizes this but does not see the lasting power. Instead Seamus feels that a seduction is taking place between the poet and the reader; specifically, Seamus means seduction when he says the words jazz dance because he feels that enticement is part of the poets allure and power. However, it can be argued that Seamus looks down on those more nave people who are being seduced because on page 37 he says, a man that has read Shelley couldnt be interested in an ignorant little bitch that thinks of nothin but jazz dances, fox-trots, picture theatres an dress. Again, jazz dance could be replaced with temptation or more specifically, sex, and it is obvious the disdain that Seamus feels towards someone as simpleminded as Minnie. Seamus is thus continually checking up on Davorens burgeoning sexual desire. On the other hand, there is Davoren who, on page 35, believes the poet ever strives to save the people; the people ever strive to destroy the poet. Thus, Davoren, attempts to mask his allure and desire with grandiose goals of saving humanity and such. Also on page 35, Seamus says, I think a poets claim

to greatness depends upon his power to put passion in the common people. So now we have two conflicting views on the purpose of a poet one to put passion in the common people, and one to save the people. On page 37, Davoren says, right glad I am and makes herself a pleasant picture to the eye. Education has been wasted on many persons, teaching them to talk only, but leaving them with all their primitive instincts. Here Davoren expresses his arrogance and pretentiousness as he thinks about Minnie as some cute, nave, toy. And now we can look at both Seamus comment and Davorens; the former wishes to put passion in the people (Minnie) which leads to her death, and the latter, believes that education on the mass is wasteful and people should be left ignorant, leading to death. This is why Sean OCasey has Davoren cry out that, its still more terrible to think that Davoren and Shields are alive. Davoren inwardly admits that he was distorting his persona so that Minnie would sleep with him; at the same time, he reflects on the self-proclaimed religious Seamus and realizes that his actions were more than just laissez-faire he not only helped to infuse passion with the people, but hid like a coward when it came to defending them. Hence, one could argue that Sean OCasey is criticizing reform and the entire IRA Britain conflict as a whole. OCasey demonstrates that he feels contempt for the smaller, more educated, elite pulling the strings of the masses in order to get what they want whether it be hedonistic pursuits (Davoren) or revolutionary ones (Seamus). Therefore, I contend that the quote on page 6, he wasnt the first nor he wont be the last to do that, but the stained-glass windows more than ever of them are still here sums up OCaseys viewpoint on reform. Reform is pointless because people will cling to established institutions with which they are familiar with. Without limits or restrictions on mass of the common people, life always ends up in instability, chaos, and death.