THE FIELD

Exam question

The play I have studied is The field by John

B. Keane. The villain I have chosen is Thady
McCabe also known as the Bull. There is
many reasons why I think he deserves the
title as villain, even before the bull enters
the stage we get a feeling that he is a
feared man in the village. The Bird Odonnal
says The Bull McCabe wont like this and
Mick Flanagan replies your telling me. And
when the bull does enter Mick flanagans pub
for the first time you can tell this man is
feared by the way bird cowars to him. the
bull McCabes attitude towards women is
also quite evident as the play goes on. The
first time we see it is when he orders Maime
Flanagan up to get her husband Mick
Flanagan he then says there's nothing like
a bull to move a heifer this is such a
disgusting and uncouth thing to say. The
next example we see is when he threatens
an old lady (Maggie butler) he tells her to
shut up, and when she's going home he

says your home alone remember that this

shows a lack of respect to women and the
elderly. the next example we see is toward
his own wife the bull McCabe was married
and had a child with his wife but for more
than 18 years he hasnt slept or hasn't
spoken to her because he hit her for letting
a donkey into his beloved field the bull
McCabe is also a very violent man we see
many examples of this through out the play
the first example we see is when the bull
proudly tells a story of when himself and his
son flaked a donkey to death ,they then
laugh it off When the Garda came to
investigate it. This also sets a bad example
to his son Tadge. Another example of his
anger is when he hit his ashplant off the
floor in pure anger waiting for Mick flanagen
to come down to talk to him, this is also a
sign that he is inpatient. .The bull is also a
very corrupt man there is many examples of
this through out the play, when he fixed the
auction and then blackmailed the bird and
Mick into agreeing into it, he threatened bird
by saying he was going to drown him and to
sweeten the deal for bird he gave him 5

pounds. He then threatened Mick with a

boycott of his shop and he would pay him
the commission. This here shows the bull
would do anything for the field even if that
meant kill his own neighbours, he is a
horrible violent sexist and uncouth.
By Ross keegan.