The setting - SR, ZG , SC
An element which is significant to the story is the setting, which provides a backbone to the story and the relationship between Rooney and Geddes. It is the set in an unnamed Lanarkshire Coalfield village, where two prominent religions, Protestantism and Catholicism, remain strong. Geddes and Rooney constantly debate due to Geddes’ distaste about Rooney’s belief.
Another setting of the story is the mine where both Geddes and Rooney work. The many accidents that occur in the mine immediately form another bond between them.
Another setting in the story is Geddes and Rooney’s pub, which they visit a lot. This pub is a backdrop of many of their arguments on the concept of religion.
Geddes - KC, IM, JS, LM
A middle-aged man, called Willie Geddes, is a 'quarrelsome atheist'. He works in the coal mines with his best friend, Liam Rooney, who is Roman Catholic. Geddes challenges his views by asking questions and making smart remarks. He has more knowledge than Rooney himself about his religion and, therefore, makes fun of Rooney’s beliefs and views.
“I wish you’d give your tongue a wee rest” is a remark from Rooney. This shows that Geddes doesn’t shut his sarcastic mouth about Rooney’s religion. He makes comments which Rooney usually shrugs off to avoid conflict. Geddes reads 'The Freethinker' every week and claims he isn’t a bigot. He thinks his comments aren’t meant to offend. He says to the barman, after an argument with Rooney, “Canny take a joke”. He seems unaware that his views were offensive to Rooney. We see from Geddes’ personality he is a bigot and believes that he is always right and too stubborn to admit his mistakes. Therefore, when he finally realises his mistake, it’s too late. This is due to the dramatic ending of Rooney’s death.
Rooney – KG, CS
Liam Rooney has been friends with William Geddes for decades, but there has always been one difference between them. Rooney is a practising Roman Catholic and Geddes is an atheist. Rooney keeps meaning to read books, but he doesn’t find the time. He has a lot of respect for Geddes.
When Rooney is working down the mines, he gets trapped with his friend, Geddes, for a few days. They teach each other songs and their bond becomes stronger. Nonetheless, they fall out on two occasions - both related to religion.
When they eventually escape working in the mines, they go to Sloan’s Pub for a few drinks. This doesn’t end well, as Geddes makes to many jokes towards the Virgin Mary and , when Rooney got older, he became ‘more touchy in his piety’ This results in Rooney walking home alone and not talking to Geddes. He doesn’t tell his wife about the argument, but, a week later, dies in his sleep.
Their Relationship - LR, EN, EM, SC
Relationships are an important theme in the short story, “ A Couple of Old Bigots”, as it shows us an insight into the relationship between Willie Geddes and Liam Rooney and how their lives were spent together working in the coal mine. After working together 60 years, their friendship grew and, as they grew old, they spent their days drinking in Sloan’s. Although they had known each other for a long a time, they always ended up arguing about religion, which later led to them falling out and not talking. Later Rooney dies and Geddes doesn’t realise this was the last time they would speak.
Mrs Rooney says to Geddes that “he thought the world of you”.
The Accident - RH, AH, RS
One significant event in the story was the time when Geddes and Rooney were trapped in the coal mine. This was not the first time they had been stuck down the mine. They were trapped for three days and occupied themselves by teaching each other songs and telling stories. The songs they taught each other were ‘Faith of our Fathers’ and ‘The Star O’ Rabbie Burns’. Rooney was continuously mocked by Geddes about his religion. This also occurred when Rooney took out his rosary beads and Geddes scoffed “Christ, dae ye aye carry thae beads wi’ ye?” They drank the moisture that dripped from the roof of the tunnel, but long before they were rescued, they were too weak to move.
Their Argument - LA, PB
Rooney and Geddes ‘were the best of friends’. They worked in the mines together for 60 years. The bigotry and arguing between the two really interrupts their great friendship. A significant turn around in the story is when Geddes brings up the “Virgin Mary” in the pub (Sloan’s). He speaks coarsely about her. Before, when he spoke about her, he was “clever and sarcastic” and ‘jocular and irreverent’.
When Geddes speaks ‘coarsely’ about the Virgin Mary, Rooney says ‘ You’re just an old bigot, so you are. I’m finished wi ye’. When Rooney finishes his drink, he walks out of the pub without saying a word. Geddes thinks he has done nothing wrong. We understand this when Geddes says ‘Canny take a joke’. When the incident has finished, Rooney avoids Geddes and Geddes can’t find him, even though he ‘went to the usual places at the usual times’.
Geddes’ Loss -
AW, LW
AW, LW
One of the key moments in the story is when Rooney has an argument with Geddes and they fall out. Then Rooney dies a week later, leaving Geddes feeling guilty about what he said. The first we see of how this is affecting Geddes was when heard the news from his wife. ‘He replied “Och ay” with Scottish brevity, showing no emotion.” This shows us he’s having a hard time getting over their argument. We can see he’s trying to hide his emotions since he doesn’t know how to react.
Another important scene is when Geddes is staring into the fire, which brings back memories of him and Rooney working in the pit and all the years they spent together. The writer describes how “the fire was refracted through his unfallen tears.” This emphasises his emotion and reveals how much he misses his old buddy.
Geddes’ feelings are relieved when he runs into Rooney’s daughter, who asks him to take the first cord at the funeral. This surprises Geddes. He says, “but that’s no’ my place, that’s for the nearest”, when he thinks of going to a Roman Catholic funeral. She states that Geddes comes before any of her uncles, flattering him.
The Funeral -
PK, AC
PK, AC
The most important part in the short story is when Rooney dies and Geddes finally shows his respect towards Rooney’s religion. The priest in the funeral ceremony was talking in 'Latin in a Donegal accent'. He said a lot of prayers that Geddes could not understand. The writer, Friel, shows us how Geddes reacts towards the death of Rooney. It describes how hostile Geddes is towards Rooney’s religion. Nonetheless, after the coffin has been lowered into the grave, he feels that he isn’t fully committed in the funeral ceremony, so he crosses himself like the others 'in a willing suspension of disbelief' and says, ‘God rest him’, to show that he was ‘as much Liam Rooney’s mourner as any of them’.
This is an interesting conclusion to the short story, because it shows that Geddes finally showed respect for Rooney’s religious views. The sad thing was that he only showed him this respect after he died.
