There are many different characters depicted in Irish literature. Readers never just see the stereotypical Irishman. In the readings, there are characters who range from sexual deviants to a man who runs a drapery with his two unmarried sisters. Each character has their own place in their story that is tied to the deepest meaning, while some seem to be mere allusions to their stories. Davy from The Belle of Belfast City seems to be one of these gratuitous characters, but does Davy have a deeper purpose and meaning in the play? Taking a first look at Davy in The Belle of Belfast City, he appears to be a small part of the plot and nothing else. A closer look at Davy reveals that he is more than just a plot point. It turns out that Davy is a nod to the main male character, Jack Horner. Davy and Jack's personalities clash and highlight each character when compared. Since Davy is mute, he cannot speak to other characters. When Davy first sees his foil, he "quickly speaks in sign language" with Jack's cousin Vi (191). This is Davy's means of communication. Jack, however, is the opposite of Davy who is mute. Jack is a public speaker and he is very passionate about his words. The choice of his words proves his feelings on the subjects he addresses. An example of his passion is when talking about the rally he is speaking at, Jack says: “Saturday is the first anniversary of the signing of the damn Anglo-Irish Agreement. Every loyal man, woman and child must take to the streets to show the British government that they will never defeat us. Never! Never! Never!" (198) Davy can't prove his passion on topics as well as Jack. He can only appear with his movements, he doesn't have the power...... middle of paper ... ...ty. It is the smallest part of the whole country, and its own handicaps have been holding it back. It has been hampered by violence and political conflict since Northern Ireland was separated from the Republic of. Ireland, it was marked by political violence. Different types of views clashed and violence resulted. It tore apart and paralyzed the North. It was as if Davy's disabilities were paralyzing his spirit. much more than a gift in The Belle of Belfast He acts as a foil for Jack, he is part of Jack's plan to gain support for his cause and he is a small symbol for the difficulties and the people of 'Northern Ireland You can find meaning in even the smallest and most irrelevant characters in literature. Even if a character is labeled as gratuitous, there is always a chance that they will mean more to the story than the reader initially imagined..