# Molly Byrne — The Well of the Saints character guide

> Molly Byrne in The Well of the Saints by J. M. Synge.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Molly, Molly Byrne Hastily, Molly Byrne Interested

**First appearance:** 0000-persons-in-the-play

## Snapshot

A fair-haired young woman whose beauty turns heads, whose tongue wounds the blind beggars, and whose flirtations with Timmy drive the village's romantic weather.

## Who they are

Molly Byrne is the village beauty, confident in her looks and careless with her words—she is the one who called Mary Doul 'little more than a fright.' She enjoys Timmy's attention and the power her beauty gives her over the men around her. Her presence sharpens the beggars' sense of what they lack, and her casual cruelty helps set in motion the events that lead them to the saint's well.

## Relationships

### [Martin Doul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_the_saints_se/characters/martin_doul)

_romantic_

Martin is infatuated with Molly, pursuing her romantically, but she rejects and mocks him.

### [Timmy the smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_the_saints_se/characters/timmy_the_smith)

_romantic_

Molly is engaged to Timmy, though she often teases and dominates him in their relationship.

### [Bride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_the_saints_se/characters/bride)

_rivalry_

Bride resents Molly for stealing Martin's attention and for her cruel treatment of him.

### [Patch Ruadh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_the_saints_se/characters/patch_ruadh)

_social_

Molly and Patch have only a fleeting, inconsequential encounter in the village.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_the_saints_se/characters/molly_byrne
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_the_saints_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_well_of_the_saints_se/characters