How Does Friel Represent Childhood In The Play The Potato Gatherers?

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Laura Charlton

How Does Friel Represent Childhood In The Play

The Potato Gatherers?

This is a short play written by a man named Brian Friel. The theme is that of two young boys who have been sent out by their mother to work on a potato harvest. This means skipping off school in order to carry out this work. Obviously the family is very poor or the mother is unable to work for herself. It is set in Ireland, the home country of Brian Friel (the author), around the time of the start of the “troubles”. The boys are very young to be working to support their families needs, Joe was thirteen and Philly was twelve. This was not Joe’s first time of working for the mentioned Mr.Kelly so he was not very excited at the prospect of working so early in the morning. However this was Philly’s first time at real “mans” work and due to his young age he was very excitable and enthusiastic. The play is set mainly in the potato field which is closely situated to their school. The play is set in Tyrone in North Ireland the play is set. It is a cold November morning and there is frost on the ground. Not exactly ideal situation for gathering potatoes but Philly is still wide-awake this early and rearing to go. It was six o’clock in the morning. The boys were chatting away without a care for whoever they could wake. To see his younger brother so excited actually woke Joe up and he started to get excited too. They display their immaturity when they pass a friend's house and the school; they just can’t help themselves but cheer and taunt.

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The story is focused on how the children have been brought up to act, how they have been sent to work and miss school because of the obvious need for money in the family and how proud the boys are that they are doing their share of work to help their family survive. It also focuses on the totally different personalities of the two boys, possibly because of the age difference or maturity. Joe is quite calm and mellow, he has worked before and he knows exactly what to expect of his day. Philly is very energetic and enthusiastic ...

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