JOHNNY BOYLE

Johnny is described as “thin, delicate and
drawn, missing an arm and limping.” He
has a “tremulous look of indefinite fear
in his eyes.” Johnny was injured during a
fight and has lost his ability to work. He is
a broken shell with a hidden secret.
Heroism

In Johnny’s mutilated body we see the
futility of heroism. It has lost him his
birthright, the ability to work. He behaved
as a hero in the past but betrayed his
comrade Tancred. This betrayal is never
explained but acts as a commentary on the
fleeting quality of human heroism.
Man V Child

For Mary he is a man of steel, “He stuck to his
principles an’ no matther how you may argue,
ma, a principle’s a principle.” Even he
declares, “I’d do it agen ma, I’d do it agen.”
However, he can’t even bare to hear about the
killing. “Is there nothin’ betther to be talkin’
about but the killin’ o’ people?” He still looks to
his mother for comfort and protection.
Self pity/ Coward

He betrays his fear at every move and
flinches at every knock. His reaction to the
other characters show the disintegration of
a character under enormous strain. He
believes that everyone is against him and
declares, “ not one o’ yous have any
thought for me.” He prefers to hide in the
shadows and disguise his fear with anger.
Impotence

Johnny cannot even stop the furniture from
being taken but must send for his father
who he has just been reviling. Johnny has
become useless through the loss of his
arm. Ironically, his body is recognisable in
the end by the lack of arm- his symbol of
heroism.
Relationship with Family

He accuses the rest of the family of
shaming him, his father for being friendly
with Joxer, Mary for “burnin’ to tell
everyone of the shame you’ve brought
on us.” He even attacks Juno for giving
way to Boyle over money.
Visions and Religion

Johnny imagines that he sees Tancred's body,
helping to reveal his defensiveness, “Oh, why
did he look at me like that…it wasn’t my fault
that he was done in.” He also shows his
cowardice, “keep him away from me.” He
thinks that a voltive light, a picture, a few snatches
of prayer, can protect him from the consequences
of his sin. Ironically the light and the statue that
he relies on turn into a vision of his sin, the scarlet
Sacred Heart into the bloody breast of Tancred.
In the end…

We see him transformed from son and brother to
“Quarther Masther Boyle.” He betrayed
Tancred – “you gave him away to the gang that
sent him to his grave.” Faced with the
summons he crumbles, “haven’t I done enough
for Ireland?” Our pity for Johnny is not of a noble
character with a fatal flaw, but for a fallible one,
caught up in a corrupt system. He represents the
maimed youths of Ireland, cheated of their right to
work and live sensibly.