Words that describe Owen: kind, considerate, successful, likeable and enthusiastic.
Hugh
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Hugh is the master of the hedge school. Although he is clearly intelligent with his knowledge of the classics and his fluency in English and Irish his drinking problem results in his downfall. "Hugh is equally as drunk but more experienced in drunkenness: there is a portion of his mind which retains its clarity" (P.84).
- Hugh is a well known and respected character within the community. He introduces others who are not part of the hedge school into the play such as when he attends the christening of Nellie Ruadh's baby.
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Hugh is passionate about the classics and shares this interest with Jimmy a fellow member of the hedge school. As well as having this interest Hugh and Jimmy are similar as they both live in their own dream world. This is shown towards the end of the play when Hugh shouts orders to people who are not even there. "'My tidings are infelicitous,' said he - Bridget? Too slow. Doalty?" (P.84). "(Shouts.) Manus! Tea!" (P.85).
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Hugh desperately seeks a sense of authority. When his English guests arrive with Owen he does everything in his power to welcome them to such an extent that his behaviour becomes "expansive."
- Hugh's talent in language through his love of the classics and his fluency in English and Irish portrays him as a mouthpiece for language generally.
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Hugh has a strong relationship with his sons but for different reasons. Hugh is proud of Owen's achievement but he doesn't display the same affection for Manus. Instead Hugh regards Manus as more of a helper around the hedge school. "Works as an unpaid assistant - a monitor - to his father." (P.1). Manus feels it is his duty to abide by his fathers wishes are so therefore did not apply for the same job as his father at the national school.
Words that describe Hugh: intelligent, respected, controlling.
Maire
- Maire is a student at the hedge school. She brings in the theme of romance and love into play. Her involvement and eventual mutual love for Yolland leads to the departure of Manus because he is so overcome with jealousy. At the beginning of the play Maire and Manus appeared to have had a romantic history together. As the play progresses and Yolland arrives on the scene their relationship rapidly deteriorates.
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Maire has an interest in the English language and people. She has a desire to emigrate and build a better future for herself. She believes that learning English will improve her chances of this. "We should all be learning to speak English." (P.24).
Words that describe Maire: Independent, ambitious, strong minded.
Yolland
- Yolland is an English lieutenant who has been sent to Ireland to standardise Irish place names into English.
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Yolland develops a love for Ireland and its culture. He desperately wants to integrate with the Irish and is eager to please but feels restricted because of the nature of his work. Yolland feels comfortable in Ireland. He feels a sense of belonging and longs to stay in the country. "Do you think I could live here?" (P.45). Yolland also becomes protective over the Irish names and resents changing them. Let's leave it alone. There's no English equivalent for a sound like that." (P.39).
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When Yolland is first aquatinted with the Irish he feels like an outsider yet he has a connection with Maire. This mutual affection develops into love. Although they speak different languages they are able to communicate to each other by using their own skills. "Yolland still does not understand. Maire stoops down and picks up a handful of clay. Holding it out Earth." (P.64).
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Yolland's disappearance at the end of the play is important to the plot as it leaves the play open to speculation. The audience may presume that Yolland is dead and when Doalty says, "the Donelly twins know how" it can be argued that they may have some involvement.
Words that describe Yolland: apologetic, outsider, eager to please.
Lancey
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Lancey is an English man who works as a cartographer. His skill is described as being "with deeds not words."
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Lancey believes himself to be superior to the people in Baile Beag. He is extremely pompous and patronising towards the Irish talking to them as if they were children. He is irritated with the fact that the Irish community does not speak English. "He speaks as if he were addressing children - a shade too loudly and enunciating excessively." (P. 32).
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Lancey wants gratitude and co-operation yet he shows the Irish disrespect. His threat of killing "every animal in Baile Beag" unless Yolland is not found within a day then evicting the nearest townlands if he is not found in two days shows that he does not care about the Irish welfare and is only interested in money.
Words that described Lancey: Pompous, authoritarian, patronising.
Jimmy
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Jimmy is a student from the hedge school. He is completely obsessed with the classics language and literature and is happy to live in his dream world. "For Jimmy the world of the gods and the ancient myths is as real and as immediate as everyday life in the townland of Baile Beag." (P.2).
- Jimmy is usually ignored by his fellow pupils but this does not bother him. He is in fact the opposite of Sarah in the sense that he chooses not to speak to others whereas Sarah tries her best to do so.
- Jimmy is very similar to Hugh regarding his love of the classics.
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Throughout most of the play Jimmy talks only of his classical myths but towards the end of the play he speaks sense to Maire telling her that marrying "outside the tribe" doesn't work. "You don't cross those borders casually - both sides get very angry." (P.90).
Words that describe Jimmy: Intelligent, dreamer.
Doalty
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Doalty is the joker and teaser of the hedge school and together with Bridget he brings humour and energy to the play. "Doalty enters doing his imitation of the master." (P.10).
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Doalty resents the presence of the English in Ireland and tries to destroy their work by creeping up and moving their measuring sticks "twenty or thirty paces to the side" thus ruining their calculations.
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He is not interested in learning English and doesn’t believe anyone is "going to go near" the new national school which will be taught in English.
- At the end of the play Doalty gets his revenge on Lancey by burning his camp.
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He appears to have some sort of farmer background. "When my grandfather was a boy they did the same thing." (P.83).
Words to describe Doalty: Joker, humorous, light hearted, lacks intelligence.
Bridget:
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Bridget is the local gossip in Baile Beag. She goes to school more for the social life rather than to get an education. She reports the events and news of the local community. "And wait till you hear this" (P.17).
- She has a partnership with Doalty and they both bring humour to the play.
- She is described as being quite vain. This is apparent when she asks Sarah to hold her mirror for her.
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As with Hugh she introduces new people to the play such as Nellie Ruadh and her baby and also refers to her partner Seamus often. This gives a sense of a close community. "Our Seamus says two of the soldiers' horses were found last night." (P.15).
Words that describe Bridget: Gossip, reporter, light hearted, humorous.
Sarah
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Sarah is one of the first characters to appear in the play. She is a pupil at the hedge school and is taught by Manus. Sarah has been considered "locally dumb" all her life because she has a bad speech defect. As the play progresses Sarah is able to say her name, however, towards the end of the play Lancey scares Sarah back into silence.
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The way Manus treats her is important to Sarah. It is evident she cares about him deeper than on a teacher level. Manus' gentle coaxing at the beginning of the play works and Sarah is comfortable enough to talk in his company. She tries to impress Manus and is devastated when Owen arrives on the scene and Manus' attention is diverted from her to Owen. "Manus ignores Sarah. He is much more interested in Owen now." (P.30).
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Sarah is described as "waiflike" and it is not easy to guess her age. Her appearance represents her shy, background character.
Words to describe Sarah's character: Shy, background character.