Write a critical appreciation of the passage pages 52-56 paying particular attention to Friels exploration of the importance of naming and identity.

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Translations essay: Write a critical appreciation of the passage pages 52-56 paying particular attention to Friels exploration of the importance of naming and identity.

Passage 52-56 is important to Friel’s play, “Translations” in that it discusses this correlation between identity and name. In particular through the ‘Tobair Vree’ naration by Owen, and Owen’s ensuing outburst to being called ‘Roland’ by Yolland. Indeed the link between identity and name is best exemplified throughout the play by Owen’s character who begins the play having embraced the English language with its progressional modernity and abandonning his ties to the ‘outdated’ Irish- slightling his true identity.

Language is undoubtedly the most important component of ones identity- being the framework used to make sense of the world and each other. The play revolves around the subject of names and their relation to identity, culture, and the power that comes with naming.  Sarah’s name for example is essential in her identity, just as with the names of places; her name, carries not only an identity, but also an origin and a lineage. When asked her name by Owen, Sarah says"Sarah Johnny Sally”, providing her parents name along with her own- Owen from there is able to place her:"Of course! From Bun na hAbhann!" and completes her identification. He responds in return with his own identity: "I’m Owen- Owen Hugh Mor. From Baile Beag." (32) Irish names in in the play quickly become associated not only with identification of an entity, but also with the history associated with that identity through family and society.

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For Owen, names seem up to this passage, to be insignificant. When Manus brings up the misidentification and thereby erosion of Owen’s identity in Act one, Owen replies: "Owen — Roland — what the hell. It’s only a name. It’s the same me, isn’t it? Well, isn’t it?"(33) Surely his argument is, that a place whether called– Burnfoot or Bun na hAbhan, is still the same place so therefore nothing has changed. He fails to understand that the main function of a name or a word it not only it’s meaning, but its identity. The importance of the name to ...

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