The mood of The Playboy of the Western World evolves as the play unfolds, shifting from lighthearted moments to more intense and reflective ones. The play opens with a satirical and somewhat humorous mood, as the villagers react to Christy Mahon's arrival with excitement and admiration, hailing him as a hero. Their exaggerated responses and their perception of Christy as a "playboy" create moments of comedy and lightness. Throughout the rest of the play, the mood intensifies as the tension between the characters escalates. There are moments of emotional conflict, particularly between Christy and Pegeen Mike, which heighten the drama and intensity of the play.
As the play progresses, the mood becomes more serious and tragic. The revelation of Christy's true actions and the consequences of hero worship lead to moments of sorrow and remorse. Furthermore, the romantic tension between the characters, especially Christy and Pegeen, creates a sensuous mood that is both passionate and dramatic. The play's conclusion has a bittersweet and somber mood. In the final act of the play, Christy departs from the village, and Pegeen mourns her loss of a "playboy":
CHRISTY.
Ten thousand blessings upon all that’s here, for you’ve turned me a likely gaffer in the end of all, the way I’ll go romancing through a romping lifetime from this hour to the dawning of the judgment day. [...]
SHAWN.
going up to her.—It’s a miracle Father Reilly can wed us in the end of all, and we’ll have none to trouble us when his vicious bite is healed.
PEGEEN.
hitting him a box on the ear.—Quit my sight. (Putting her shawl over her head and breaking out into wild lamentations.) Oh my grief, I’ve lost him surely. I’ve lost the only Playboy of the Western World.
These characters all have different feelings about Christy's departure. Christy promises to continue his "playboy" role, Shawn expresses thankfulness for being able to marry Pegeen, and Pegeen breaks out into "wild lamentations" because she has lost Christy. Such a wide array of reactions reflects the complex and multifaceted mood of The Playboy of the Western World. This mood evolves throughout the play to encompass various emotional tones including humor, satire, tragedy, and moments of intensity before resolving into somberness and disappointment as Pegeen gets the final word of the play.
