How does Owen change his affiliations in "Translations"? Discuss his role as translator and 'go-between'.

Owen becomes a go-between with the English and Irish. He is still involved with his job to Anglicise Irish place names to some degree and yet he becomes more integrated and develops relationships with the people in the Irish community. Although Owen is clearly ambitious and wants to be successful when he settles into the town of Baile Beag "he has neither concentration nor interest" to continue his line of work. Although at first Owen is keen to please the English he feels sympathy with his family and other people in the community when it is evident that the English want to take complete control of the town. At the end of the play he realises that he no longer wants to be involved with the English and this is shown when he disregards the 'Name-Book' when it falls on the floor. "Owen picks up the Name-Book. He looks at it momentarily, then puts it on top of the pile he is carrying. It falls to the floor. He stoops to pick it up - hesitates - leaves it." (P84).

Owen's affiliations change in the middle of Act 2 when he becomes annoyed that Yolland is still calling him Roland. When Owen tells Yolland that this is not his name it is as if Owen has rediscovered his identity. He has become less of a tool for the English and more his own person. This could be seen as a turning point for Owen in the play. It is at this point that Owen discovers how important language and naming is. Before this Owen does not see the importance of Irish traditions and meanings connected to their place names and tries to justify his actions of Anglicising these by explaining to Manus "it's only a name." At this point, however, Owen changes his viewpoint and he begins to take an interest in the history behind Irish names. It could be argued that he realises that although Ireland is an unprivileged country because of its political and economic problems the reason Ireland is so special is because of the beauty and history of its language.

Another turning point for Owen could be when Manus is given a new job and Owen says, "this calls for a real celebration." It appears that at this point Owen is truly happy for Manus. From this point onwards the audience sees a change in Owen's persona, the warmth in his character is shown and he wants to protect his brother and other people in the village he feels close to. It is also after this point in the play that Owen starts to come round to Yolland's way of thinking. This is shown when the two are changing the Irish place names into English sounding words and writing them down in the 'Name-Book'. When they come across Tobair Vree they find that there is no English sounding equivalent and make the decision to leave it in Irish.

At first, Owen's job is as a translator for the English. He undergoes the task of changing Irish place names into English "with great energy and efficiency." It is obvious that he wants to impress the English with his knowledge and skill. As the play continues, however, he takes on board Yolland's feelings towards the tradition of the Irish place names and starts to appreciate the history behind them. The 'Name-Book' becomes a mixture of English and Irish and towards the end of the play Owen realises that he does not want to be involved with the job anymore. Owen's role in the play takes a drastic turn when he looses interest in his job and becomes fully involved with learning about the traditions behind the names. It is at this point in Act 3 that the audience can see a remarkable change in Owen's personality. Despite the fact that he is still being hired by the English to Anglicise the Irish place names he rebels against them keeping some of the Irish names and supporting the community when the English try to take control of the village because of Yolland's disappearance. It can also be said that he is a go-between with the English and Irish. Although he wishes to be successful in his work at the end of the play he becomes responsible for the hedge school and it is evident that he is taking over Manus' job. The audience can also see that after the English make threats to the community Owen resents their presence and his job and for this reason he puts himself in the position of being a major part of the hedge school.