Sive

Synopsis

Sive is a young and beautiful orphan who lives with her uncle Mike, his wife Mena and his mother Nanna. A local matchmaker, Thomasheen Seán Rua, wants Sive to marry an old man called Sean Dóta. Thomasheen convinces Mike and Mena to organise the marriage. They will receive a sum of two hundred pounds as soon as she marries him. However, Sive is in love with a young man, Liam Scuab. But Liam is not suitable and is refused permission to marry Sive. Sive is distraught but is forced to do the will of her uncle and his bitter wife. Faced with an unthinkable future she takes the only choice left to her. Set against the harsh poverty and difficult times of 1950s Ireland, Sive caused considerable controversy on its debut in February 1959. Since then it has become an established part of Ireland's theatrical canon.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Gathering Storm

* Introduction of Sive, a young woman living in a rural village in Ireland in the early 1900s.
* Sive is beautiful and kind-hearted, but she is also trapped in a life of poverty and oppression.
* Her father, Shawn Keogh, is a cruel and abusive alcoholic who forces her to work as a servant in his household.

Chapter 2: The Proposal

* Matt Brennan, a wealthy farmer from the neighboring village, proposes to Sive.
* Sive is initially reluctant, but she is pressured by her father to accept.
* Matt's proposal offers her a chance to escape her oppressive home life.

Chapter 3: The Wedding

* The wedding is a grand affair, but Sive feels numb and disconnected.
* She is aware that her father has only agreed to the marriage for the dowry that Matt will pay.
* After the wedding, Sive is forced to leave her home and move into Matt's house.

Chapter 4: The New Home

* Sive struggles to adjust to her new life as Matt's wife.
* She is isolated and lonely in the unfamiliar surroundings.
* Matt treats her coldly and distant, failing to provide her with any emotional support.

Chapter 5: The Visitor

* A young man named Liam Mangan, who was in love with Sive before her marriage, arrives at Matt's house.
* Liam tries to persuade Sive to run away with him, but she refuses.
* Sive is torn between her desire for a life with Liam and her duty to Matt.

Chapter 6: The Confession

* Sive confides in her neighbor, Ellen Casey, about her unhappiness in her marriage.
* Ellen encourages her to stand up for herself and refuse to be a victim of circumstance.
* Sive resolves to find a way to leave Matt.

Chapter 7: The Escape

* Sive plans her escape with the help of Liam.
* She leaves a note for Matt, informing him of her decision to leave.
* Sive and Liam run away together, embarking on a new life filled with hope and possibility.

Chapter 8: The Aftermath

* Matt is enraged by Sive's escape and vows to find her.
* He tracks them down to Dublin, but Sive refuses to return with him.
* Matt is arrested for threatening Liam, and Sive is finally able to live her life on her own terms.