Commentary on Act 1 of the book Translations by Brian Friel.
Commentary on Act 1 of the book Translations by Brian Friel The opening paragraph of the play Translations tells us in great detail about where the play is set. It is set in a hedge-school, which was a disused barn or hay-shed. The opening of the play makes us see that there are two means of isolation. The language binds together the community and in this play we will see how differences in language split society. Manus is teaching Sarah to speak as the play begins. He is being very patient with her and he thinks that it is important to teach her to articulate, 'Come on, Sarah. This is our secret'. When you see how Sarah is finding it hard to speak English it makes you feel that she is the symbol for Ireland's backward position. Jimmy on the other hand represents the educated civilised tradition of old Ireland. He is a scholar, however Sarah is the opposite. She is a contemporary Ireland, as she has no voice to speak out. She has no capacity for taking part in the modern world. Sarah just wants to become part of the society. The way Manus is pushing Sarah to speak, for example, 'Raise your head. Shout it out. Nobody's listening'. You feel that Manus does not want Sarah to be a nobody in the community, so he is helping her. The way that Sarah acts around Manus makes you feel that she fancies him, 'Manus hugs Sarah. She smiles in shy, embarrassed pleasure'.
Re-read Dancing at Lughnasa from the end of Act 1, page 38 (the stage direction Father Jack enters) to page 42 (bottom of the page). Discuss the importance of ceremony and its effect on an audience in this extract and in the
Re-read Dancing at Lughnasa from the end of Act 1, page 38 (the stage direction 'Father Jack enters') to page 42 (bottom of the page). Discuss the importance of 'ceremony' and its effect on an audience in this extract and in the play as a whole. Brian's Friel "Dancing at Lughnasa" portrays the use of ceremonies within the play. The play enables the audience to relate to the different cultures portrayed within the play and the contrast between the Irish and African Culture. This extract emphasises the contrast between the two cultures and significantly represents the importance in ceremonies within both cultures and how it is an ultimate way of escaping. The play is set during the Lughnasa festival this is significant in the sense that when Father Jack returns from his time in Uganda the audience are able to compare the two different ways of life, rituals and ceremonies in Uganda and Ireland. Throughout the play, the sisters discuss the Lughnasa festival that they know only from a rumour. Kate forbids discussion of the ceremonies but curiosity still hovers. Though the women appear to be practicing Catholics, there is a conspicuous lack of religious ritual in their lives. Religion functions more as a set of rules and admonishments than as a source of strength and spiritual renewal. Perhaps it's not the faith they yearn for, but the ceremony. Father Jack also speaks about of
The passage upon which is the center of discussion is taken from Act one, scene one of Molière's theatrical 17th century comedy Dom Juan.
French Drama Commentary Melissa Chima Introduction The passage upon which is the center of discussion is taken from Act one, scene one of Molière's theatrical 17th century comedy Dom Juan. In this scene we are introduced to Sganarelle who is a servant to main Character Dom Juan, and we see chauffeur of Done Elvire, Gusman on this sole occasion. The character of Dom Juan however is not presented to the audience until the next scene-this is the only scene in which he and Sganarelle are not seen simultaneously. The play commences with a discussion between these two characters concerning Dom Juan. This entails Sganarelle in discussion to Gusman on the subject of Don Juan and his marrying Done Elvire, Dom Juan's most recent seduction, due to Gusman's confusion as to why Don Juan has abandoned her. This is a significant scene as it gives a characterization of the two main characters at the start of the play. Sganarelle describes Dom Juan whilst also representing his contradictory character to the audience. The audience is almost warned of Don Juan before he is able to appear on stage, dramatizing his entry. It is Sganarelles final speech which accomplishes this, and therefore merits a closer examination in a stylistic respect. The passage has a particular theme. It functions in order to portray both the subject of the discussion and the speaker. The tone is somewhat serious
‘How effective isthe first scene as the opening of the play?’
'How effective is the first scene as the opening of the play?' Brian Friel named this play, 'Translations.' By definition a translation is 'the process of rendering from one language to another, and the product of this process.' However, something is inferred in a translation, the original text looses some of its subtleties as well as some of the sounds of the words, the phonetics, and the ways in which the words are spelt, the orthographics. Sp not only is the title referring to the change of language, but also the loss of something in the process. Immediately, even before the play has begun, this title hints to the audience or reader of the topic and perhaps themes contained within the text; namely that of language. The opening line of the play belongs to Manus; Brian Friel has 'thrown' his audience into the scene mid-conversation. From Manus's line it appears that this has been an on-going dialogue for perhaps quite some time. This also provides a sense of continuity, a continuity that will soon be destroyed - Manus's tutoring of Sarah is obviously on-going, as is Jimmy Jack's love of the Classics; we're not just in mid-conversation, we're in a time segment of their everyday, mundane lives - this is a huge contrast to the tumult later in the play. This allows the audience to immediately get a feel of the situation and of the characters. There is no formal
“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
A surprising amount of Translations depends on suppression, both political and personal, and the unspoken.(TM) To what extent are suppression and the unspoken important in the text?
'A surprising amount of Translations depends on suppression, both political and personal, and the unspoken.' To what extent are suppression and the unspoken important in the text? The play 'Translations' by Brian Friel is set in Ireland in 1833, During this time Ireland was undergoing colonisation by the English and the play represents a microcosm of the events occurring all across the nation at the time. Throughout the English empire's reign many Irish people were left without say in what was being happening to their own country and having to encounter suppression by the overwhelming power the English had had over them. The play very much portrays this image within itself and Friel has deliberately done this in order to reiterate history and reveal the struggle the Irish had to encounter. Suppression and the unspoken are heavily used within the play and the importance of its role within the play varies. Although some being more important compared to others, the issues as a collective seem much valid in justifying its importance. It can be argued that Friel illustrates it like so in order to aid the audience in judging for themselves the issues surrounding the colonisation. Suppression is a
How are the characters and their relations established in Act one of Brian Friel's " Translations".
How are the characters and their relations established in Act one of Brian Friel's " Translations" Characters and their relations are effectivelly established in different ways by Brian Friel in his play " Translations". Friel uses the relations of characters to emphasise certain characteristics. By being subjected to the interpretation of a character through the opinions of other characters allows the reader to form a judgement of the character. Friel uses stage directions to build-up a character. Once the character is present on stage, if the character lives up to the characteristics mentioned in the stage directions the reader or audience can easily focus on these flaws or assets and therefore get a better understanding of the character. Manus is one of the first characters that is introduced in Act one. He is described to be in his late/early thirties, shabbily dressed aswell as, ' pale-faced, lightly built' This description shows Manus to be a weak and feeble figure and this physial description suits his character well as when reading Act one, one learns that he is a very lame character who is easily manipulated by his father. Manus' weakness is shown through his relations with three characters, his father Hugh, Maire and his brother Manus. Although Hugh is an extremely able man, Manus accepts being ordered out by his father as though he were his servent. An example
How Does Brian Friel convey a sense of cultural identity through the way his characters speak?
Task: How Does Brian Friel convey a sense of cultural identity through the way his characters speak? In the Play 'Translations' the characters are separated into the two groups the English colonists, Captain Lancey and Lieutenant Yolland, and the Gaelic speaking Irish population, Manus, Sarah, Jimmy Jack, Maire, Doalty, Bridget, Hugh and Owen. Coming from different backgrounds mean the two groups the characters speech has been carefully written by Friel to display different cultural identity within their speech, such as different syntax, dialectical lexis and colloquial language. The two English sappers, Lancey and Yolland, speak in standard English both being formal and correct although Yolland also includes politeness, he apprises negative face needs Lancey dose not although the translation by Owen is changed to do so, in his idiolect where as Lancey seems not to do so, for instance when the two are Hugh by his son Owen, Lancey says, "Good Evening", and then continues to use Minimal responses to address the questions posed to him where as Lancey greets Hugh by saying, "How do you do." which carries more polite connotations with it, although his responses are short to the questions he is asked are short they are not minimal responses, like Lanceys, and show he is more willing to engage in phatic communication. Lancey also conveys an authoritive attitude lacking
How does the language and structure used in the play Flowers for Algernon help to convey the characters and themes of the play?
How does the language and structure used in the play Flowers for Algernon help to convey the characters and themes of the play? In the radio play 'The play of Daniel Keyes' Flowers for Algernon' which was adapted by Bert Coules, language and structure convey the themes and characters of the play. Charlie's personality throughout the play is mainly developed throughout by the implementation of language. The changes which occur in Charlie are also emphasized dramatically through the use of language and progress reports. The play explores the themes of medial and ethical issues and how language affects this. Structure and language both play a large part in the radio play ''The play of Daniel Keyes' Flowers for Algernon' by conveying the characters and themes of the play. Charlie Gordon's character is demonstrated clearly through the language of the play. His childlike personality especially is shown clearly in the beginning and at the end of the play. This trait of Charlie's personality is shown most effectively by the use of language, as shown when Charlie races Algernon in the 'amazed'. When Charlie finally wins, he exclaims "Ha! I won! I beat Algernon!", which is similar to what a child would say after losing consistently and then winning. Similarly, when Charlie first loses to Algernon, he creates a reason to why he hasn't won, using an excuse to try make himself feel
How does Brian Friel establish the theme of language and its effects on communication, power and identity in Act one?
How does Brian Friel establish the theme of language and its effects on communication, power and identity in Act one? In the play Translations, language and its effects is clearly one of the central themes. This is evident because the characters all show what language means to them ranging from Hugh who uses his knowledge of languages as a form of power over the British to Owen who does not show any concern for his language and identity and allows the British to call him Roland. Furthermore the title of the play Translations is ironic because although one of the themes of the play is keeping your identity the book itself looses its identity. This is because although the play is written by an Irish author and set in Ireland, it is written in English. Thus the title foreshadows the outcome of the play. One of the ways Brain Friel establishes the theme of language is by using Sarah as a device to convey the bare minimum of language. Her limited knowledge of language limits her communication. However this could also be a benefit to her as she is able to have secrets without being expected to share them. Sarah is first introduced in the play by the stage directions which say "Sarah shakes her head vigorously and stubbornly" this is because Manus wants her to speak so she has an identity in the world. This could foreshadow that the Irish, who do not want to speak English will be
