On stage Lancey is presented as crisp, which contrasts with Hugh who is presented as carefree with his attitude towards appearance. When the audience see this they see a difference in personality between Hugh and Lancey. Lancey and Hugh hold a different set of values as Lancey values wealth and appearance whilst Hugh values intelligence and learning. The passage is staged with Hugh pouring himself some more alcohol. This shows the audience Hugh’s carefree attitude and that he does not value his health or appearance but his intelligence and learning. Hugh’s friendly informal way of teaching contrasts with Lancey’s speech, which is emotionless and formal. This shows the context of staging in this passage.
Manus tells Owen that he shouldn’t have changed Lancey’s speech. Then Owen shows himself to be someone who talks their way out of situations by saying that he was uncertain about what Lancey was saying: ‘Uncertainty in meaning is incipient poetry’. Owen was saying that Lancey’s speech was ambiguous with no certain meaning. This could show that Owen is a quick, persuasive character. However Manus knows that there is a certain meaning to what Lancey had said.
Manus and Owen have a difference of opinion about the British. Their attitudes are opposite. Manus sees the British as a threat whilst Owen has no problem with the British and what they plan to do. When Owen says at the end of the passage: ‘It’s the same me’ this is important because it means that he thinks an object is the same regardless of its name. This shows his attitude towards the names of the places in Ireland being changed. This quote also fits into the whole performance because the renaming of the places eventually contributes to the way of life of the community coming to an end. There is also another interpretation of this quote by Owen and that is that he is not sure and wants convincing that when a name of a place changes the way of life and culture doesn’t change. However, Manus thinks that the names’ being changed is wrong or sinister. Owen is more practical than Manus, and Manus seems to be more idealistic. Owen represents modernisation whilst Manus represents traditionalism. This explains why they argue in this passage. It could be thought that Owen cares for Manus, but later in the play when Manus wants to run away Owen thinks that people will start to look at him and that suspicion will fall on him. Therefore Owen trys to persuade Manus to stay. On the other hand it could be that Owen genuinely cares for Manus and really wants him to stay. It could be thought that Owen cares for Manus, because he offers him money when he decides to leave Baile Beg and then says ‘Good luck, Manus!’ Therefore it could be thought that even though they have a difference in opinion they care for each other.
On stage Manus is presented as ‘shabby’, which is contrasting to how his brother Owen is presented. Owen is dressed well. How Owen and Manus are presented on stage makes the audience come up with personalities for these characters.
Owen can be thought of as someone who is responsible for the relationship between both cultures: the British and the Irish. He also is responsible for translating for the British. He can also be thought of as someone who is in the middle of both of the cultures. Owen has a positive attitude towards the English ways and the king and this is shown when he says his job is to: ‘translate the quaint archaic tongue you people persist in speaking into the King’s good English.’ This could also be interpreted as him being supportive of the English and their interests in Ireland.
The other characters in this passage that should be considered are Yolland and Lancey. Yolland and Lancey are contrasting in some ways. Whilst Yolland is very caring and open, with good communication skills, Lancey is socially unskilled. He is uneasy with people. Lancey is crisp and well presented, whilst Yolland is ‘tall and thin and gangling’ with an ‘awkward manner’. Also Lancey has no real feelings about Ireland and thinks it is just a place, and Yolland sees it is a beautiful romantic place and this is shown when he says: ‘I think your countryside is- is- is- is very beautiful. I’ve fallen in love with it already.’ In this passage however, Yolland is very shy and reserved but this is not true in the rest of the play. Lancey and Yolland represent the soldiers who take care of the changes to the names and the Irish community. Captain Lancey represents the reserved type ‘stage-Englishman’ who is cold and Yolland represents the sentimental ‘Stage-Englishman’ who loves anything Irish, which is shown in this passage when he says ‘I hope we’re not too- too crude an intrusion on your lives. And I know that that I’m going to be happy, very happy, here.’ This shows Yolland’s attitude towards the Irish, he wants to please them and he respects them. When Yolland says this it shows that he acknowledges that the English are outsiders unlike Lancey. This language fits into the whole performance because Yolland becomes very happy in Ireland and meets a lady whom he falls in love with. He often says that what he really wants is to stay in Ireland with Maire whom he loves. This is shown when Yolland says: I’ve made up my mind…’ and then when he says ‘I’m not going to leave here….’ He falls in love with Ireland.
The theme that is represented in this passage is the theme of mapping. This is shown when Lancey explains to the class that the English soldiers will be mapping out the area. Another theme that is represented in this passage is change. At this point we find out that the names of places in Ireland will be changed from Gaelic to English, which illuminates the theme of change. However, the people in the class do not find this out yet as Owen changes Lancey’s words slightly.
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English Literature Close reading