John Millington Synge (1871–1909) was a seminal Irish playwright, poet, and prose writer, best known for his role in the Irish Literary Revival and his association with the Abbey Theatre. Born in Dublin into an Anglo-Irish Protestant family, Synge was initially drawn to music but later turned to literature under the influence of W. B. Yeats. A pivotal moment in his life came when Yeats advised him to visit the Aran Islands to experience the authentic spirit of Irish rural life.
Synge’s works are marked by their rich use of Hiberno-English, lyrical prose, and a blend of comedy and tragedy. His most famous play, The Playboy of the Western World (1907), caused riots upon its premiere at the Abbey Theatre due to its controversial portrayal of Irish peasantry and its irreverent tone. Despite the backlash, it remains one of the masterpieces of modern Irish drama.
Other notable works include Riders to the Sea (1904), a one-act tragedy portraying the harsh life of Aran islanders, and The Well of the Saints (1905), which reflects Synge’s fascination with folklore, mysticism, and the struggles of rural Ireland. His works often depict the beauty and brutality of peasant life, infused with poetic realism and dark humor.
Synge died of Hodgkin’s disease at the young age of 37. Though his literary career was brief, his contributions to Irish theatre and literature were profound, influencing later playwrights like Samuel Beckett and contributing significantly to the development of Irish national identity through art.
