By analysis, give a critical comment on the theme of fantasy versus reality in John M. Synge's play, The Playboy of the Western World.

"Fantasy" is a strong word to use in relation to a play
noted for its realism (not originally favorably noted, either). One definition of
"fantasy" is: "imagination unrestricted by reality" ( href="http://www.collinslanguage.com/results.aspx">Collins English
Dictionary). While the things that happen "near a village, on a wild coast of
Mayo" may be "the wildest sayings and ideas," to quote href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1240/1240-h/1240-h.htm">Synge, he is
noted for attempting to attain an untainted and real image of the Irish on the Aran
Islands. Having said this, it can be agreed taht the villagers did have one or two wee
fantasies a-goin' on in their brains.

The theme of fantasy
versus reality is established when a stranger drags himself into a small remote village
and asks if the police come there often. Sober-minded reality goes from the villagers'
minds, collected as they are in the local inn, as fantasy takes hold and they start
guessing at what criminal act he may have committed so that he is avoiding the police.
Their fancies run wild until they drive him to confess that he just killed his father
and ran for it. Rather than realistically show him the door and the quickest way out of
town, they continue to fantasize about him. Eventually they lionize him and give him the
title Playboy of the Western World as his reputation with them overrides his actual life
and he becomes the champion of every local sports game they
play.

Reality intrudes in the form of his father Mahon, who
survived Christy's attack, and has come to search him out and, while there, set the
fantasies straight. As a result of Mahon's physical attack upon Christy, during which
the villagers discover he did not kill his father--only tried and failed!--the villagers
turn on him.

readability="8">

PEGEEN — [glaring at Christy.] — And it's lies
you told, letting on you had him slitted, and you nothing at
all.

The end result is that
reality forces Christy back to his father's notice and ends his engagement with Pegeen.
Reality gives him the opening to march away from the village and Mahon's control as a
man whose fantasy has become reality:

readability="9">

CHRISTY. Ten thousand blessings upon all that's
here, for you've turned me a likely gaffer in the end of all, the way I'll go romancing
through a romping lifetime from this hour to the dawning of the judgment
day.