“Drama Shows Us That Those Who Control Language Dictate the Events of the Play” Compare Your Texts In the Light of This Opinion.
“DRAMA SHOWS US THAT THOSE WHO CONTROL LANGUAGE DICTATE THE EVENTS OF THE PLAY” COMPARE YOUR TEXTS IN THE LIGHT OF THIS OPINIION.………………………………………….
Norman Fairclough, a modern linguist, proclaimed that “language is power,” implying that if you want to control a person or gain power over a nation, you must first control language. The writers of “The Tempest” and “Translations” clearly demonstrate this theme of control through the initial gaining and then maintenance of power through language.…………………………
Both plays share the capacity to combine comedy and tragedy, although Translations is not a tragicomedy like The Tempest. Translations summarises the events of a nation being conquered by another, dwelling on the tragedy of Irish history over the course of several hundred years. Hugh, the school master, tells us that “It is not the literal past, the “facts” of history that shape us, but images of the past embodied in language…we must never cease renewing these images.” Shakespeare, on the other hand, isn’t inclined to use history, preferring rather to incorporate a fairy tale ambiance into such issues as language and power.
Both plays demonstrate how one language can evolve and secure displacement over another very convincingly. In The Tempest, Miranda belittles Caliban’s original language as “gabble” and “babble.” In addition, Prospero also makes Caliban seem subordinate through his art and power. Shakespeare uses the theme of social hierarchy to insinuate an importance it holds over Prospero’s control.………………………………………………………………………
In Translations, it is the colonisers that control language, but Friel uses townspeople like Hugh to dictate the events of the play. Friel presents a stark opposition between the Irish people of Baile Beag, who speak Gaelic and who trace their roots back to ancient civilisation and the English soldiers, who speak English and who seem to be ignorant of events away from other cultures.………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The coherent structure of Translations enables Friel to communicate the theme of cross-cultural conflict and communication and to determine whether outsiders like Yolland and Maire can fit in. Friel creates tension in the opening act through Hugh. From pages 24-26 in particular, Hugh is in full control. He displays arrogance when using words such as “conjugation,” words that his students are unlikely to know. The stage directions indicate that Hugh treats Maire indifferently, not noticing her gestures and shaking her as a consequence. This highlights the clash between the Irish and the English. Hugh emerges as the more powerful, “We have been diverted!”….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Shakespeare presents Prospero in a similar light to Hugh. Prospero is also in control of his language because he is also well educated. Throughout the play, Prospero uses language to coerce characters into meeting his requirements. Like Hugh, Prospero confidently expresses linguistic and magical authority, “my art” and “my project.”……………………………..
Shakespeare displays a similar degree of latitude and coherence to Friel in his language and structure, opposing the negligent comments made of Prospero and Caliban with Lytton Strachey. In the opening scene, Gonzalo uses words such as “thou” to the Boatswain but receives “you” back, stressing the gap in power. Act 1, Scene 2 demonstrates the strongest example of Prospero’s power over the “monster” Caliban. It is worth considering critics’ view that Prospero is a magician. “It was mine art,
