The Well of the Saints: A Comedy in Three Acts
by J. M. Synge (1871–1909)
- Free to read
- 1 hour to read
- 3 chapters
- Reading level: 6th grade
"The Well of the Saints: A Comedy in Three Acts" by J. M. Synge is a three-act play first performed in 1905. Set in a remote Irish mountain district centuries ago, it follows two blind beggars who believe themselves beautiful, deceived by their community's lies. When a wandering saint restores their sight with holy water, they discover devastating truths about themselves and each other. The play explores the conflict between illusion and reality, questioning whether sight is truly a blessing or a curse.
Read the opening
Act I
[Roadside with big stones, etc., on the right; low loose wall at back with gap near centre; at left, ruined doorway of church with bushes beside it. Martin Doul and Mary Doul grope in on left and pass over to stones on right, where they sit.]
MARY DOUL.
What place are we now, Martin Doul?
MARTIN DOUL.
Passing the gap.
MARY DOUL. raising her head. — The length of that! Well, the sun’s getting warm this day if it’s late autumn itself.
MARTIN DOUL. putting out his hands in sun. — What way wouldn’t it be warm and it getting high up in the south? You were that length plaiting your yellow hair you have the morning lost on us, and the people are after passing to the fair of Clash.
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About this edition
This free edition of The Well of the Saints: A Comedy in Three Acts by J. M. Synge comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #1241, released 1998-03-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Plays/Films/Dramas, British Literature.
Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).
