What is the Role of Owen in Translations?

The most significant enemy in the re-naming of the places is that the Irish believe it to be a removal of their heritage and tradition, as Manus says, ‘What’s ‘incorrect’ about the place-names we have here?’ It would seem that Owen’s view on the idea of the preservation of tradition is to question tradition altogether. When he and Yolland are discussing what to call Tobair Vree he asks ‘do we keep piety with a man long dead, long forgotten, his name eroded beyond recognition, whose trivial little story nobody in the parish remembers?’ Here Owen points to the Irish people’s almost instinctive fear of change. He sees tradition as simply a romantic perhaps even nationalist excuse to hide from progression. This view is perhaps the least biased of all, as of all the characters Owen is the one furthest away from any particular side, and because of this, he is easier for the audience to relate to, and could perhaps even be described as the play’s chief narrator. Moreover, Owen’s less passionate stance incorporates a check on the Irish nationalism that much of the play delivers.

In spite of his position as translator, it is arguable that Owen is in fact a barrier of understanding between the two cultures. When he introduces the natives to Yolland and Lancey and provides the translation he omits details and alters others and changes the meaning to that of which, from one point of view, is less controversial. He changes the fat that they will be likely to have to pay more taxes to ‘from now on you will know exactly what is yours by law’, and he translates Maire’s ‘Has he anything to say?’ to ‘she is dying to hear you.’ There are three possible reasons for his inaccurate translation. Firstly, it is to protect the Irish from knowledge that may lead them into a losing battle; or secondly, to protect the English from the anger of their current hosts. However, the most likely reason is that Owen simply wishes to make his life easier. If this is true it questions the virtue of the wealth he has acquired, as he seems to prosper at other people’s expense. More significantly though, is this presentation of the idea that people can only succeed at the expense of others, and so casts a new light on England’s huge interest with Ireland. Also, it would seem that Owen’s poor translations prevent either side from hearing what each other has to say, and so only serves to exacerbate the problem.

Owen is the play’s greatest realist. Whilst he can speak the classical languages he doesn’t quote them like Hugh and Jimmy. His experience of modern times away from Baile Beag prevents him from truly fitting in when he returns, although there is no evidence in the text as to whether he did before he left. Being the play’s least nationalist and least romantic, he assures the audience that the Irish fight a losing battle against the English. Doalty says how ‘he’ll [Lancey] not put me out without a fight’ and Owen reminds him that he faces trained army. This is to remind the audience who may well be as indulged in the glory of Thermopylae as Jimmy is, that the Irish face a tragic and tyrannical struggle, no matter how hard they cling to Irish tradition or classical mythology.

In conclusion, Owen’s primary role in the play is to allow communication between its two groups and there is great irony in the fact that it is arguable that he does the opposite. Furthermore, his own attempts to communicate the cold reality of the situation, as with his Translations, are never really heard. His character, and the events in his life also show that progress comes as a result of communication, proved by his own personal success, resulting largely from his ability to speak English, which to a surprising extent, mirrors the play itself.