Big Maggie

Big Maggie
Written by	John B. Keane
Characters	Big "Maggie" Polpin Katie Polpin Gert Polpin Maurice Polpin Mick Polpin Teddy Heelen Mary Madden Mrs Madden Mr Byrne Old Man Old Woman Mourners The Priest
Date premiered	1968
Place premiered	Gaiety Theatre
Original language	English
Genre	Rural drama
Setting	Ireland, 1960s

Big Maggie is a play written by John B. Keane, first performed in 1968. Big Maggie is a compelling vision of the Irish mother as a sociopath, Maggie Polpin is a widowed mother of four living in rural Ireland, now sole owner of the family shop and farm. She is a complex figure, far from the clichés of Irish femininity which preceded her. This is a hard-bitten, uncompromising woman who puts her personal security above all other concerns. She rejects the place which cultural precedent has laid out for her and chooses to drive all of her children away rather than nurture them like a mother can.

Big Maggie is studied at Leaving Cert Ordinary Level English by students in the Republic of Ireland.

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