The Enemy Within

ACT 1

Columba, the Abbot, is in voluntary exile at Iona and resides at the monastery with the monks and novices. Even though he is the Abbot, he never takes advantage of his position. Although he is 66 years old, his physical health and looks surpass his age. The play begins with Columba meeting the new novice Oswald, but Columba jokes around more with the other monks, while Oswald is admiring him from afar as his childhood idol. Brian, the messenger, arrives with word from Hugh, Columba's cousin. Hugh needs Columba to come back and assist his family. Columba struggles with this request as he feels more connected to his spiritual calling at Iona. After all, he has taken a vow not to participate in tribal fighting. Columba chooses to go, and lets his desire to go home overtake the words from Grillaan: "He that loveth his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Friel, Act 1, 34).

ACT 2

In Act Two, Columba returns to Iona glad that there has been no fighting. He is bringing back gifts to make up for abandoning the monks and novices. However, his dear friend Caornan has died in his absence. Dochonna reveals to him that Caornan on his deathbed had wished to be released into hermitage on Iona, if he would survive the illness. In the next scene, Columba is greatly burdened by the inability to feel his own age and his lack of physical restraints. Therefore, he asks Grillaan to punish him, but Grillaan tells him to follow the Rule by the word, and to surrender the excess of service to his monastery. Oswald enters and starts to greatly compliment Columba, despite Columba's attempts to protest "hero"-status. However, Oswald is relentless and the confrontation ends in Columba slapping him. Out of shock and disappointment over his childhood hero committing such an act, Oswald runs away.

ACT 3

In Act Three, Columba is desperately looking for Oswald, so much so that he chooses to forego sleep and nutrition. Eoghan and Aedh, Columba's brother and nephew, arrive to talk to Columba. Their reason for visiting is that they want Columba to return home to help them bring Aedh's wife back home. Aedh's wife, Ita, had taken his child and returned to the Picts. Therefore, they want Columba to come with them, claiming the Picts will let Ita go without a fight if Columba is there. Even though Columba is tempted to go, he refuses and the other two disown him for not caving. Columba curses them and Ireland for stealing away his immortal soul and his best years, culminating in despair over such an act. Towards the end of Act Three, Oswald returns because he is hungry. In his last line, Columba says that "we are awake now and ready to begin again - to begin again - to begin again!" (Friel, Act 3, 77). Columba's final line proves how he has conquered the desire to return to Ireland, and that he can start over with a blank slate because of the gift of Oswald's return.