Throughout Friel's play 'Translations', the importance of identity is explored and is a major theme of the story. There are two types of identity presented, one being the character's and their realisation of how important it is to them

Authors Avatar

Look again at Act Two, Scene one from ‘Owen: What is happening?’ to ‘Owen: Oland  And again they explode

Using an examination of this extract as a starting point, explore the importance of a sense of identity as presented in the play as a whole.

Throughout Friel’s play ‘Translations’, the importance of identity is explored and is a major theme of the story. There are two types of identity presented, one being the character’s and their realisation of how important it is to them. Linked in with them, is the identity of names and what a name means.

This extract begins with Yolland questioning why the English are in Ireland and senses something ‘sinister’. It is ironic that Yolland, the English sapper, can see the dangers that are to come, but Owen, who has grown up in Baile Beag and has family still living there just perceives it as ‘making a six – inch map of the country.’ From this converse, it is clear that Yolland knows the importance of identity that the inhabitants have with Baile Beag whereas Owen learns this the hard way later on in the play. It is maybe Yolland’s appreciation of the country and his longing to be part of it, that makes his opinion closer to the Irish point of view.

Join now!

Friel’s presentation of Owen persists that,

‘Owen And we’re taking place – names that are riddled with confusion and…

Yolland Who’s confused? Are the people confused?’

It is not the Irish people who are ‘confused’, but it is the English who do not understand the language and thus are ‘riddles and confused’. Although Yolland’s character appears less intelligent compared to Owen, it is Yolland who has the insight on the damage that changing names might have on the Irish people’s identity.

Owen continues to try and persuade Yolland that there is nothing wrong with what they are doing ...

This is a preview of the whole essay