MovieChat Forums > The Quiet Man (1952) Discussion > Sean was the one hung up on money, not M...

Sean was the one hung up on money, not Mary Kate!


This movie is very straightforward so I find it simply astonishing that apparently so many people have misinterpreted it. Firstly, this movie is set in a small rural village in Ireland in the year it was released (not the 1920s, for crying out loud). Basically, this means that the culture and customs of this village is Victorian to the core; think 1880s rural USA. This is not an exaggerated portrayal, but an accurate one. (Divorce in Ireland was illegal until 1996s; I love my Irish heritage, but Ireland by no means is a progressive country) This is why the character of Sean Thorton is having such a difficult time.

Because the culture he grew up in was so very different, he complete fails to understand what the actual issue is. Mary Kate's dowry (furniture and money) is the only thing in the world that belongs to her, made even more special that it was her "mother's and her mother's and her mother's before". She lives in her brother house at his pleasure. He has absolutely no respect for her and values her only as much as society dictates he must without losing face. Refusing to give his sister her money is all about his ego. Using the "conspiracy" as his excuse, he refuses to acknowledge his sister as a person of any value (and that he was only appearing to finally do right by her for his own ends i.e. marrying the widow). (Even her "lack of a fortune" before marriage shows how little he values her, he's the richest farmer in the county, but won't give her a dime as a decent brother would in this culture.)

Mary Kate tells Sean repeatedly that she needs her things because they're very important to her because of what they represent and because even if the money doesn't mean anything to Sean, it does to her brother. In a society where it is his job to defend his wife, he is allowing another man to disrespect her and him publicly. Despite discussing this with him multiple times, he is never able to really understand what she's saying because of his own Issues with money (which he repeatedly fails to explain to his wife).

It takes his wife leaving him for Sean to understand that whether he agrees or not this is not an issue he can avoid in his marriage or the society he lives in now. And it is only when Mary Kate runs ahead of him to open the furnace door that he truly understands it was never about the money.

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I'm going to make the assumption that you're not trolling here. First off you're completely off on your interpretation about the time period in which the movie is set. It is most definitely set in the mid-1920's to early 30's. The civil war following the signing of the treaty that created the Irish Free State and partitioned Ulster to remain in the UK was over by 1922, which was the direct reference to Flynn's line that he hadn't given up hope of continuing the fight to unite the entire country. The "commandant" he was speaking with was obviously in his 30's; if it was set in 1952 he would have been either an infant or possibly not even born yet during the war for independence and subsequent civil war. Pretty simple timeline there.

Second, though I do agree he was wrong to not explain to her his reason behind his issue with money, it was a necessary plot device, and it was actually Mary Kate who had the 'revelation' when she saw the fire door to the steam engine - at the wedding, remember, she was the one on the floor picking up the gold pieces Danaher initially provided. She obviously intended to keep it. It was only after Sean stands up for it that SHE realizes that this action was enough for her!

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First off you're completely off on your interpretation about the time period in which the movie is set.

THANK YOU. I mean, geez - as you point out, the timeline is pretty clear to anyone who's listening, not to mention the fact that Pittsburgh-raised Thornton isn't dressed like a '50s city slicker when he arrives. It pains me to note that some of the most witless comments I've ever read on IMDb have been on this board. How people can be so off-the-wall wrong about such an entertaining film is beyond me.

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This links a fairly lengthy article discussing the making of The Quiet Man, customs of 1920s Ireland, the 1952 contemporary Irish sentiment concerning the movie, Ford's use of the same company of actors and the social messages throughout the movie.

It is long but very interesting.

https://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~wcd/quietman.htm

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Thanks for the info!

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I think her opening the furnace door was more her realization that his standing up to her brother was much more important than the money. I think she saw him walking towards the furnace and quickly reads the situation in that he was going to put it in there himself. Her opening up the door shows him that the money wasn't as important to her as he thought. Kind of a mutual understanding.


He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?


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Firstly, this movie is set in a small rural village in Ireland in the year it was released (not the 1920s, for crying out loud
How people like you think to breath air is beyond me.

I've had a lot of sobering thoughts in my time Del Boy, it's them that started me drinking!

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"This movie is very straightforward, so I find it simply astonishing that apparently so many people have misinterpreted it. First of all, the movie is set in a small rural village in Ireland (not the 1920s for crying out loud)".


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First of all, Sean said to Mary-Kate "Money, all you think about is money and I am sick of it".He is so guilty over accidently killing his opponent for the money that he can't stand to hear the importance Mary-Kate puts on getting her "dowry".Second of all ,obviously you have not been to Ireland of late!!!! It is over the top LIBERAL -oops,I forgot the new word is progressive! The old Irish traditions and beliefs are sadly gone.

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Sean wanted to plant rose bushes outside the door. Mary Kate pooh-poohed that as impractical and wanted to plant potatoes.

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Although The Quiet Man is based on a short story sets in the '20s, the film is contemporary with its making.

This is "proven" in the scene where Shawn remembers his killing the other boxer. The photographers use Speed Graphic cameras (which did exist in the 20s), but use flashbulbs -- which did not come into commercial use until 1929. QED.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_(photography)

As for the issue of money and property... Kate makes it clear early on that the money and property establish her as independent woman, free of her brother's control. It's possible this is why Sean doesn't understand her, as the idea of an "independent" woman doesn't sit well with him.

Given that her independence is the issue (and not the money -- though it makes independence possible) -- it is nevertheless surprising that she incinerates it. I suppose that's the ultimate act of independence.

By the way, the Olive edition is a true three-strip electronic transfer. The outdoor scenes, in particular, are magnificent.

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Oh, for heaven's sake, folks! First off, Ford's deliberately vague in its timeline, almost imbuing it with a mythical quality (as affirmed by innumerable essays and books). So, it's not meant to be pinned down. Now, given that, the flashbulbs would be anachronistic before late 1920s. But all the way forward to 1950's!? Observe the automobiles, even if well kept we assume these aren't antique collectors. Observe the style of telephones. Note the way IRA and other politics are discussed. 1950's just doesn't work, either. No sense that it's set during WWII. So, "timeless" but probably pre WWII and definitely post War of Independence.

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By the way, the Olive edition is a true three-strip electronic transfer. The outdoor scenes, in particular, are magnificent.

Now THAT's useful information. Thanks!

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Mary Kate tells Sean repeatedly that she needs her things because they're very important to her because of what they represent and because even if the money doesn't mean anything to Sean, it does to her brother.

I think your own words belie your premise.

Sean is so not hung up on money he over pays by 40% for the property from the widow, freely spends and buys rounds at Cohan's bar, plants rose bushes rather than crop producing plants (potatoes), and pointedly tells Mary Kate that he doesn't care about her dowry - as you say. Throwing it into the open furnace at the end puts the punctuation point on it.

Democracy is the pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance. H.L. Mencken

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The message is a marriage is a partnership. He provided a house and she wanted to bring her furniture as a way of saying I'm building a house too.

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