The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Friel, Brian. Philadelphia, Here I Come! Faber and Faber, 2000.

The play’s narrative divides its central character, Gareth O’Donnell, into two separate entities, intended to be played by separate actors. Those entities are identified in the text, and in this analysis, as Public and Private. Public is the external side of Gar, the part with which other people interact. Private is the internal side, his emotions and intuitions and impulses. No other characters in the play interact with Private; Public responds to him but does not address him or look at him. Throughout this analysis, the terms “Public” and “Private” are used as they are in the text, to identify which character is speaking at which time. The term “Gar” is used to identify the overall situation and actions of the whole character.

The play is divided into three Episodes, or acts. Episode 1 takes place in the late afternoon and early evening of the day before Gar’s scheduled departure for a new life as an immigrant in America. Public puts the finishing touches on his packing, helped by housekeeper Madge and frequently finding himself distracted by the playful imaginings of Private. At one point, Private leads Public into memories of a relationship with a young woman named Kate, and of how Gar abandoned the relationship when he met Kate’s father and felt painfully inferior to him. At another point, Gar’s father S.B. comes home, and the household goes through the motions of its regular routine, as if Gar was not about to leave. This leads to considerable frustration in Private. The conversation between Public and Private reveals that Gar’s mother Maire died when he was very young, that Maire was several years younger than S.B., and that since Maire’s death, Gar and S.B. have been distant from each other. There is also a visit from Gar’s former schoolteacher, Master Boyle, who becomes affectionate and maudlin. This leaves both Public and Private even more frustrated, and even more determined for life in America to be better than life in Ireland.

Episode II takes place a short time later. In its first section, Gar recalls a visit from his Aunt Lizzy, her husband, and a family friend. During a semi-drunken conversation, Lizzy attempts to tell a long family story, but keeps getting distracted by other thoughts. She eventually invites Gar to come and live with her in America, saying that she has longed for a child for years and hinting that she knows how unhappy Gar is with S.B. When Gar comes out of his memories, he argues with Madge about his intentions to have one last party with his friends. After he goes, Madge speaks angrily to S.B. In the second half of Episode II, Gar returns home with his friends, their conversation focusing on the drinking, the women, and the partying that Gar is going to miss when he goes to America. After they go, Gar is also visited by Kate, come to say goodbye. Public speaks harshly to her about how glad he will be to leave, while Private urges him to be more tender with her. Kate leaves, upset. After she has gone, Public is upset at what he has done. Private encourages him to think positively about his new life. Public voices his longing for his father to say something.

The first part of Episode II takes place a short time later, as the family says its evening prayers and is visited by a family friend, the Canon, an elder of the local church. As S.B. and the Canon play their regular game of checkers, Public tries to get Madge to talk about his mother, but she is mostly uncommunicative. Private urges Public to give up trying to talk with his father, who seems to be too focused on the routines of his life to pay attention. In the second part of Episode II, however, Public makes one last attempt to engage S.B. in a shared memory, but S.B. does not really participate. Public gives up, and goes out to finish packing. Madge muses on how much she will miss him, and when Public comes back in, they talk briefly about plans for Gar’s departure. Public asks her to make sure to keep in touch, and she promises. After she goes, Private asks Public why he is leaving. Public says he does not know. The play ends with the question left hanging in the air.