This book comes as a continuation to the previous book with the same title, but this time, with ten plays and a broader discussion of the previously discussed ones. In this book, many specialised people have worked hard in order to answer the ongoing debates in the literary field. It deals with the most abstract idea in the Irish Theater: Nation Identity. It studies ten plays by three dramatisits and gives insight for analysing other plays.
The presented plays are as following:
- The Countess Cathleen
- Cathleen Ni Houlihan
- Purgatory
- Riders to the Sea
- The Playboy of the Western World
- The Well of the Saints
- Juno and the Paycock
- The Plough and the Stars
- The Shadow of Gunman
- The Silver Tassie
Table of Contents
I-Acknowledgement
II- Introduction
III- The Countess Cathleen
IV- Cathleen Ni Houlihan
V- Purgatory
VI- Riders to the Sea
VII- The Playboy of the Western World
VIII-The Well of the Saints
IX- Juno and the Paycock
X- The Plough and the Stars
XI- The Shadow of a Gunman
XII-The Silver Tassie
XIII- Conclusion
XIV- Works cited
Objectives and Themes
This dissertation examines the portrayal of Irish national identity within the dramatic works of W.B. Yeats, J.M. Synge, and Sean O'Casey. It explores how these playwrights navigate historical, mythical, and psychoanalytical themes to define a sense of "Irishness" that often bridges the gap between pagan roots and Christian surface realities, ultimately positing that self-sacrifice for the national cause is a unifying element in the Irish cultural psyche.
- The synthesis of Celtic myth, folklore, and Theosophy in Irish drama.
- The psychological exploration of national identity through Freudian and Jungian frameworks (Id and Ego).
- The subversion of traditional Christian narratives to promote cultural nationalism.
- The influence of the Abbey Theatre on Irish history and identity formation.
- The use of language, specifically Anglo-Irish syntax, to reflect authentic Irish experience.
Auszug aus dem Buch
Countess Cathleen
The story of this play is old to a degree which makes it impossible to define the first source of it. However, it is most likely from the Druid times (Monaghan109). It is best, then, to take the story as a myth and deal with it as a well-known aspect of national identity. The story was altered by Christian influence, and Yeats added some details.
The play, set in the time of the Famine is highly national; the Irish blamed the British for the Famine. The Protestants' exploitation of the starving peasants' urgent need for sustenance, made them start their crusade for converting the Catholics into Protestants (Schulze 45, Howes 48, Harris 36). Moreover, the Irish looked at the British as the main cause of the Famine; God sent the blight and the British caused the Famine (Cusack 54). All these elements are loaded in the setting. The place is as in the real story, a peasant's cottage, which is the essence of Irishness. The characters are mostly the same as in the original story, except Aleel; he is Yeats, and before Yeats, he is the king of "Connaught" and his wife Maeve—who, assign Cuchulain as champion, and are well-known for judgments—are related to the mythical world of pagan gods (Monaghan128). The other elements of the play are the same as in the first version of the story. Therefore, it will not be needed to repeat the story, but it should be highlighted when the dramatist charges a new meaning into the general line of the play. The mentioning of an owl in the very beginning of the play, which does not exist in the main source, has a symbolic meaning; fairies.
Summary of Chapters
I-Acknowledgement: The author expresses gratitude to those who contributed to the composition and publication of this work.
II- Introduction: Sets the stage by defining Irish national identity in dramatic works and introducing the psychoanalytical and historical framework used.
III- The Countess Cathleen: Analyzes the interplay between Christian charity and pagan Celtic mythology in the context of the Irish Famine.
IV- Cathleen Ni Houlihan: Explores the symbolic transformation of Ireland into a young queen through the theme of self-sacrifice and revolution.
V- Purgatory: Discusses the repeated cycle of crime and trauma as an erosion of national identity and memory.
VI- Riders to the Sea: Investigates the struggle between the world of the living and the dead, and the subversion of Christian symbols by pagan ones.
VII- The Playboy of the Western World: Examines the power of storytelling to create reality and the conflict between romanticism and realism.
VIII-The Well of the Saints: Focuses on blindness as a metaphor for preserving an authentic Irish vision against Christian influence.
IX- Juno and the Paycock: Analyzes the societal chaos and the collapse of national identity following the Anglo-Irish Treaty.
X- The Plough and the Stars: Discusses the 1916 Rising and the tension between revolutionary nationalism and individual identity.
XI- The Shadow of a Gunman: Explores the ambiguity of heroism and the impact of the Independence War on the tenement dwellers.
XII-The Silver Tassie: Interprets the shattering of a cup as a metaphor for the destruction of national identity during World War I.
XIII- Conclusion: Summarizes the collective contributions of the three dramatists in reviving and shaping Irish national identity.
XIV- Works cited: Provides the bibliographical references for the dissertation.
Keywords
Irish national identity, Celtic-Buddhism, Yeats, Synge, O'Casey, Celtic mythology, Psychoanalysis, Self-sacrifice, Famine, Realism, Romanticism, Theosophy, Rebellion, Drama, Cultural nationalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this dissertation?
The dissertation analyzes how prominent Irish dramatists use national identity as a central theme in their works to explore Ireland's history, culture, and struggle for independence.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The main themes include the fusion of Celtic mythology and folklore with religion, the psychoanalytical study of the collective Irish psyche, the role of self-sacrifice, and the dichotomy between romanticism and realism in representing the nation.
What is the primary research question?
The work investigates how playwrights like Yeats, Synge, and O'Casey portray Irish national identity and how this identity is shaped by historical events, pagan traditions, and the complex relationship with British influence.
What scientific methods are utilized in the analysis?
The author employs literary analysis integrated with psychoanalytical theory (specifically Freudian and Jungian concepts) and cultural/mythological interpretations of Celtic-Buddhism to decode the playwrights' messages.
What content is addressed in the main body?
The main body conducts a play-by-play analysis of major dramatic works, examining symbolism, settings, language styles, and historical allusions to show how each dramatist contributes to the narrative of Irish identity.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Irish national identity, Celtic-Buddhism, self-sacrifice, cultural nationalism, and the dialectical relationship between romanticism and realism.
How does the author interpret "Celtic-Buddhism"?
The author uses this term to denote a complex amalgamation of Shamanism, Druidism, and Buddhist concepts, which the playwrights use to define an authentic, pre-Christian, and uniquely Irish spiritual essence.
How does the dissertation relate the "Playboy" riots to its main thesis?
The dissertation argues that the riots were not merely external reactions, but an intended consequence of Synge's work to force the audience to participate in the "performance" of their own national identity, bridging the gap between artistic representation and real-world revolution.
- Quote paper
- Youssef Al-Youssef (Author), 2015, National Identity in Irish Drama. A Study of Selected Plays by Yeats, Synge and O'Casey, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/293141
