20세기 초 아일랜드문예부흥 시기에 아일랜드 연극계에서는 예이츠를 중심으로 연극부활운동이 활발하게 전개되었다. 『총잡이의 그림자』는 습작기를 거쳐 숀 오케이시가 애비극장에서 발표한 최초의 드라마로 무명작가의 작품이 성공하기 어렵다는 극장 측의 걱정을 일소하고 큰 성공을 거둔 작품이다. 이 작품의 시대배경인 1920년 당시 아일랜드는 아일랜드공화군이 영국과 독립전쟁을 벌이고 있던 시기로 작품의 배경인 힐조이의 주민들은 영국군의 수색, 가택침입, 무차별 연행 등의 횡포로 많은 사상자를 감수해야 했다. 이러한 시기에 진정한 영웅찾기라는 주제로 작품을 발표한 오케이시의 극에는 겁쟁이와 가짜 애국자들이 가득 차있다. 쉴즈는 지식인이면서도 온갖 자기합리화를 하면서 방관자 노릇을 하고 있고, 주인공 다보렌은 자칭 시인으로 시대착오적인 시를 읊으며 현실도피 하기에 여념이 없다. 이곳 주민들은 다보렌을 공화군 요원으로 잘못 착각하고 그를 찾아와 온갖 떠들썩한 아첨으로 그의 편이 되려고 한다. 이에 반해 맥과이어는 아무도 몰래 공화군 총잡이로 활동하다가 소문도 없이 죽음의 길을 간다. 이 글은 영웅찾기의 아이러니라는 주제로 인물들의 표리부동한 행동을 분석하고 아일랜드를 구원할 진정한 영웅은 누구인가에 관해 논의할 것이다.
Bernice Schrank states in "You Needn`t Say No More": Language and the Problems of Communication in Sean O`Casey`s "The Shadow of a Gunman" that Sean O`Casey has attempted in his plays to embody the idea of breakdown. In my essay Schrank`s views on the O`Casey play will be confirmed and corroborated by analyzing the behavior of the characters in The Shadow of a Gunman from the perspective of dramatic irony. Davoren and Shiedls are reality dodgers and escapists. They are intellectuals who know what is happening between the IRA and the Black and Tans. They are respected and approached by the other residents of the slum district, Hilljoy. Davoren is even regarded by them as an IRA guerilla on the run from the British forces. The slum dwellers visit the room where Davoren and Shields stay to ask questions, consult them for advice, or to just talk to them about their personal problems. They do things to express their feelings toward the visit of the IRA personnel who happens to be visiting them. They always profess that they are ready to do anything to help liberate the country from the shackles of the British imperialism. Here, what they do in front of Davoren is the signifier of the characters` behavior, and the true nature of their behavior is the signified. The facade of their patriotic performance does not always correspond with their real personality, the essence of the character. Just as Davoren and Shields try to find excuses for not liking the liberation war so the minor characters conduct a ritual for themselves from their respective perspectives. Tommy Owens is ready to do anything to prove that he is on the side of the IRA. He even sings `God Save Ireland,` the rebel song. The characters utilize language to the utmost degree to hide their fear and evade the responsibilities for independence as the Irish. The true hero of the play is Maguire who comes on the stage for only a few minutes, and leaves to catch butterflies in Knocksedan. Maguire hardly speaks. He was not even recognized by most of the characters. He is later said to be shot dead by the British Army. Another martyr is Minnie Powell who takes the explosive bag to her room thinking that she is saving Davoren, the bogus IRA gunman. The liberation war is conducted without the recognition and assistance of the mass of Ireland.