The Well of the Saints

The Well of the Saints is a three-act play written by Irish playwright J. M. Synge, first performed at the Abbey Theatre by the Irish National Theatre Society in February, 1905. It is set in the rural east of Ireland two or more centuries ago.

Important Characters

• Martin Doul, an elderly blind beggar
• Mary Doul, his wife, also blind
• Timmy, a young blacksmith
• Molly Byrne, Timmy's beautiful fiancee
• The Saint, a wandering holy man

Plot Synopsis

Martin and Mary Doul are two blind beggars who have been led to believe that they are beautiful by the lies of the townsfolk, when in fact they are old and ugly. A saint cures them of their blindness with water from a holy well, and at first sight they are disgusted by each other. Martin goes to work for Timmy the smith and tries to seduce his betrothed, Molly, but she viciously rejects him, and Timmy sends him away. He and Mary both lose their sight again, and when the saint returns to wed Timmy and Molly, Martin refuses his offer to cure their blindness again. The saint takes offense and the townsfolk banish the couple, who head south in search of kinder neighbors.

Quotes

• "And that's the last thing I'm to set my sight on in the life of the world - the villainy of a woman and the bloody strength of a man." - Martin Doul
• "The devil mend the old Saint for letting me see it was lies." - Martin Doul

References

• Synge, J.M.. The Complete Plays. 1st. New York: Vintage Books, 1935.