ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to write about autobiographies of the whole man, and the proper theme of autobiography. In face of the great richness of modern autobiography in so far as it tells of the development of a specific gift and task, its success in representing the whole man is relatively meagre. The majority of outstanding modern autobiographies therefore conceive of self-fulfilment as the fulfilment of a task or group of tasks, a calling or profession. If the writer simply tries to establish himself as a "personality", his work tends to be vain, crude, or philistine, redeemed only by the interest of his reminiscences or by the significance of some particular achievement. O'Casey wishes to give us the quality of the boy's experience, through the medium of his thoughts, feelings, and imagination, and helps out only occasionally with a historical explanation. One may sympathise with his revolt and his truthfulness, the result is not what he aimed at.
