By close examination of Act 1, discuss the ways in which Friel explores the importance of the link between language and identity.

The fact that the language between the individuals is so exclusive is emphasised during the scene between Hugh, Owen and Lancey, an English officer. Hugh offers Lancey a “drop” and Lancey fails to understand his offer of a drink. This is proof that the colloquialisms of the community defines the way in which they converse and this perhaps excludes outside members, and therefore defines the identity of those within the community. In addition, this suggests the way in which Lancey, who comes from an official and formal background, may not be comfortable with such informalities, therefore defining his character as being very formal and perhaps a very educated and strict background. It is possible that because of Lancey’s use of language he may be perceived as a “snob”, in using phrases such as “if I may” and words such as “embark” and “equitable”, it is almost as if he places himself above any slang, and uses his language to define his strong and formal identity. This point is further accentuated when Lancey addresses the Gaelic villagers “as if he were addressing children – a shade too loudly and enunciating excessively.” In using Lancey’s language to patronise the other Gaelic characters, Friel shows how important language his in concerning identity and how others might perceive one’s identity.

Friel investigates the link between language and identity further by creating the character of Jimmy Jack Cassie, a man of many languages. He is able to speak Gaelic, Greek and Latin fluently, it seems ironic that a small Hedge school that might be perceived to be lacking in resources, is home to so much intelligence. Jimmy is consistently drifting between languages, “…alla hekelos estai en Atreido domois…”. This almost subconscious and eloquent use of so many rich and difficult languages suggests the idea that Jimmy is an incredibly clever man. However his constant use of these different languages could also be interpreted differently in concerning the identity of Jimmy. It is arguable that constant quoting of “Homer” could be interpreted that Jimmy wishes to inflict his languages and therefore his intelligence on the rest of the characters in a manner that constantly boasts his knowledge to the others. However one could also draw the conclusion that Jimmy only wishes to share his languages, for example he often includes Manus in his Latin and Greek, when he finish a speech he asks “what’s that Manus?” and offers Manus the opportunity to translate what Jimmy has just been saying. From this, Friel perhaps suggests that Jimmy’s constant use of many languages depicts his identity to be that of a generous and positive one – he often exclaims “Bene! Optime!”, which very much suggests his optimistic manner.

Most significantly, Friel explores the link between language and the identity of the Gaelic community as a whole. The rejection of the English and the determination of many of the characters to continue teaching in Gaelic suggests that the community’s identity very much consists of remaining loyal to their traditions. Maire declares that she feels it would “fit me [her] better” if she could speak ever just a little English, and we later learn that this is because she plans to move to America. When she announces this to Manus, he becomes very clearly agitated “you never told me that” with the way she persist to argue that English holds the key to progress. In favouring the language of English, it seems that Maire chooses to distance herself from her own community. This is furthermore reflected in her choice of words and language when she claims “God, some of you people aren’t happy unless you’re miserable and you’ll not be content until your dead!” Such an exclamation suggests that she may not be as loyal to her language as her acquaintances, the way she refers to them as “you people” rather than “us people” suggests that the Gaelic community is perhaps not a community she particularly favours to be a part of. Such language reflects not only that Maire may not have such a strong sense of loyalty to her community, but other’s reactions to her language and word choice, such as Manus’ suggests that the majority of the Gaelic characters consider language to be a great reflection of the sense of loyalty one feels for their community.

In exploring the link between language and identity, Friel does not simply study the word choices of the characters in order to reveal their identities; he explores the language of their communication, their local colloquialisms and dialect, the languages they choose to converse in and the way they use language and tone to address one another. Not only does he study how language affects the identities of individuals, but he also examines the way in which it affects and shapes the relationships between the characters and the overall identity of the Gaelic community.