I was court-martialled in my absence, and sentenced to death in my absence, so I said they could shoot me in my absence.

The quote "I was court-martialled in my absence, and sentenced to death in my absence, so I said they could shoot me in my absence" by Brendan Behan reflects his irreverent and sarcastic attitude toward authority, particularly in the context of his own experience with the Irish Republican Army and its militant actions. Behan, an Irish playwright and poet, was known for his wit and his ability to laugh at the absurdities of life, especially when it came to political and military matters. The quote highlights his defiance and his view that, since the legal or military process had already deemed him guilty without his presence, the punishment of death would be equally absurd.

In this statement, Behan humorously suggests that if he was to be condemned without being present—both for the trial and for the sentence—then the idea of being executed in absentia was equally nonsensical. The quote plays with the idea of absence and irony, suggesting that the process of being sentenced to death was so disconnected from reality that he would accept it as an absurd formality. Behan’s humor emphasizes his distaste for bureaucratic systems, particularly those involving the military or political establishment, while underscoring the lack of logic in such institutions.

The origin of this quote comes from Behan's life experiences, particularly his involvement with Irish nationalist movements. Behan had been imprisoned several times, including for his role in the Irish revolutionary cause. His experience with authority, combined with his love for satirical commentary, informed much of his writing and public persona. Known for his works such as The Quare Fellow and Borstal Boy, Behan often reflected on the absurdities of life, including the contradictions and ironies of political struggle.

Ultimately, Behan’s quote highlights his ability to find humor in the face of injustice and absurdity. By responding to an absurd situation with equally absurd humor, he underscores the nonsense of the military and political systems that enforce arbitrary decisions. The quote illustrates his defiance, his wit, and his deeper criticism of systems that operate without a real sense of fairness or human consideration.