Small Things Like These: The struggle between conformity and courage in an antiquated Irish society.
Start Date
7-8-2026 10:30 AM
End Date
7-8-2026 10:45 AM
Location
ALT 203
Abstract
From the ratification of the Irish Free State in 1921 until 1998, the Catholic Church and the Irish Government worked in tandem to institutionalize women of unclean status, unmarried pregnant women as well as their children. Thus creating Magdalene Laundries and Mother and Baby Homes as a means of forced conformity to the Church, State’s, and society’s conception of the woman’s role in Ireland. At the height of these institutions in 1951 at least 1% of the Irish population was incarcerated in various church and state run facilities.
We analyzed and compared the novel and film, Small Things Like These written by Claire Keegan. This story highlights the subjugation of fallen women and their children in Irish culture as well as presenting themes of grief, guilt, conformity, and Christianity as the protagonist Bill Furlong grapples with his internal battle of self preservation vs courage.
In 2013, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny apologized on behalf of the government regarding the Magdalene Laundries, "We put away these women because for too many years we put away our conscience." The first step in this research is to interpret how modern Irish society has begun to express overdue shame for allowing this system to last. The second step is to read and evaluate Keegan’s novel and explore how the plot and characters mirror Irish society in this time period. Lastly, the researchers compare the novel to Tim Mielants’s film adaptation. This includes analyzing if the film portrays women similarly or differently than the original novel.
Small Things Like These: The struggle between conformity and courage in an antiquated Irish society.
ALT 203
From the ratification of the Irish Free State in 1921 until 1998, the Catholic Church and the Irish Government worked in tandem to institutionalize women of unclean status, unmarried pregnant women as well as their children. Thus creating Magdalene Laundries and Mother and Baby Homes as a means of forced conformity to the Church, State’s, and society’s conception of the woman’s role in Ireland. At the height of these institutions in 1951 at least 1% of the Irish population was incarcerated in various church and state run facilities.
We analyzed and compared the novel and film, Small Things Like These written by Claire Keegan. This story highlights the subjugation of fallen women and their children in Irish culture as well as presenting themes of grief, guilt, conformity, and Christianity as the protagonist Bill Furlong grapples with his internal battle of self preservation vs courage.
In 2013, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny apologized on behalf of the government regarding the Magdalene Laundries, "We put away these women because for too many years we put away our conscience." The first step in this research is to interpret how modern Irish society has begun to express overdue shame for allowing this system to last. The second step is to read and evaluate Keegan’s novel and explore how the plot and characters mirror Irish society in this time period. Lastly, the researchers compare the novel to Tim Mielants’s film adaptation. This includes analyzing if the film portrays women similarly or differently than the original novel.
