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 and re-tells the story of why ‘Tobrair Vree’ has its name. He concludes that if no one except him remembers the story, then why keep the name? Yolland uses this example to say that if Owen remembers it, then others in the village may too and there might be other names that they have changed which have small anecdotes attached. One point of view would argue that it is Owen’s responsibility, to tell others about why the crossroad has this name, in order to preserve history. This could also be a microcosm from a ‘trivial little story nobody in the parish remembers’ to a story which although forgotten has significant importance in life. For example if the Holocaust was forgotten, but one man remembered, it would be his duty to tell others about it. If Owen and Yolland change the name, then the story will be lost forever and part of Baile Beag’s history and character, however small is lost.
Yolland’s character is described as ‘shy, awkward manner. A soldier by accident.’ He does not have a strong identity, however feels strongly and is ‘concerned about (his) part’ in the English takeover. He later reveals that he wants to remain in this area of Ireland and not only does he fall in love with Maire, but he also sees her as a way into Baile Beag. Maire, however wants the complete opposite; to leave Ireland for America and she is in love with Yolland as well as being in love with the idea that he can help her reach her dream of leaving. It is ironic that the identity the two lovers want, are the identities that the other wants to leave behind.
In a play about changing names, the question must be asked, is your name part of your identity? Yolland and Lancey both call Owen ‘Rowland’ and in the extract chosen Owen enlightens Yolland of his real name, this part of the play must be very entertaining for the audience to watch.
‘Owen (explodes) George! For G-d’s sake! My name is not Roland!’
This outburst is in complete contrast to act 1, when Owen is talking to Manus about the name ‘Roland’.
‘Owen Easy, man, easy, Owen – Roland – what the hell. It’s only a name. It’s the same me, isn’t it? Well, isn’t it?’
His attitude has changed to this topic and Friel’s choice of the repetition ‘isn’t it?’ in the second quotation emphasises that this is not a closed question but is rhetorical. It is clear that Owen did not like the anglicised version of his name. However, this is exactly what he is doing to the names of Baile Beag, although the link between these two things does not become apparent to Owen until it is too late.
A sense of the character’s identity is entwined with where they live. When Owen returns to the hedge school at the beginning of the play, he remembers Sarah through her home village,
‘Sarah Sarah John Sally.
Owen Of Course! From Bun na hAbhann! I’m Owen – Owen Hugh Mor, from Baile Beag…’
The added fact of where Owen is from when introducing himself, and his recollection of who she is through where she is from, highlights that the names of places is a part of identity for the people of Ireland. Taking these names away, is like taking a sense of the character’s identity from them, and these names are of obvious importance.
Having explored the extract chosen, it is clear that the importance of a sense of identity presented in the play as a whole is great. The Anglicising of Irish names and implementing the English language in the new schools is a large threat to Irish identity. Although another point of view is that the Irish culture is in decay, for example speaking in dead languages, Greek and Latin. So the change for the Irish will give them new identity which will push their small country forward in a forever changing world. However, I believe that the English should let the Irish decide whether or not they want this change in order to choose their own identity.
Jessica Mann