Maire

The identity crisis that takes place within the character of Maire brings to light issues of tradition versus modernity, as well as language as a source of power. Although they can be seen elsewhere throughout the play, these issues seem to originate and resonate particularly through Maire’s identity struggle. When we are first introduced to Maire’s character, her desire to learn the English language is made immediately apparent by her reciting an obviously memorized phrase in English: “In Norfolk we besport ourselves around the Maypoll.” (Friel 8) She then announces that she was taught this sentence as a four year-old, revealing her fascination with words she still has no meaning for. With her eagerness toward the English language and its modernity, Maire takes the initiative and makes the choice to be taught this language on her own accord by asking Hugh to give her lessons. This decision to learn the English language challenges her notions of preserving Irish tradition and the identity that goes along with it. Catherine Wiley, author of “Recreating Ballybeg: Two Translations by Brian Friel,” argues that at one point Maire even chastises the “Irish culture that feeds romantically upon stubborn, mystic pessimism…focusing her frustration on the Irish penchant for despair” (59). This can be seen by her saying,

Sweet God did the potatoes ever fail in Baile Beag? Well did they ever- ever? Never! There was never blight here. Never. Never. But we’re always sniffing about for it aren’t we? – looking for disaster. The rents are going to go up again - the harvest’s going to be lost – the herring have gone away forever – there’s going to be evictions. Honest to God, some of you people aren’t happy unless you’re miserable and you’ll not be content until you’re dead! (Friel 18).

Her frustration with this tradition of Irish pessimism only creates a deeper yearning for the modern world, and the key to the modern world is the English language. The power of language is presented throughout this play in varying ways. It is shown to not only be a symbol of identity for the Irish people and their traditions, but in the case of Maire, language also demonstrates the power of survival. At the opening of the play, her desire for learning of the English language is made obvious, and shows the realization that this is her only way of survival. Charles Baker in his essay, “’It’s the Same Me, Isn’t It?’: The Language Question and Brian Friel’s Translations” states, “Maire asks to be taught English, realizing that her future depends on it. Far from passively accepting the language of her oppressors, Maire actively acquires English for her own benefit” (266).

Through Maire’s character, Friel seems to demonstrate this crisis of identity as more of a crisis of survival. According to Maureen S.G. Hawkins in her essay "'We Must Learn Where We Live': Language, Identity, and the Colonial Condition in Brian Friel's Translations": “This depopulation will continue, as Maire’s plan to emigrate in order to relieve her family’s poverty indicates, and, wherever the emigrants go, most will need to abandon Irish for English to survive” (27). As a person of Irish culture, Maire’s choice to learn English not only gives her the power of survival; it also brings her toward personal liberation through the Irish appropriation of English. By the Irish accepting English as their own language they will have the power to create their own Irish English.

Sources Cited/Consulted:

Baker, Charles. "`It's The Same Me, Isn't It?': The Language Question And Brian Friel's Translations." Midwest Quarterly 41.3 (2000): 264. Academic Search Premier. Web.

Hawkins, Maureen S. G. "'We Must Learn Where We Live': Language, Identity, and the Colonial Condition in Brian Friel's Translations." Éire-Ireland: A Journal of Irish Studies 38.1-2 (2003): 23-36. ProQuest. Web.

Wiley, Catherine A. "Recreating Ballybeg: Two Translations by Brian Friel." Journal of Dramatic Theory & Criticism 1.2 (1987): 51-61. ProQuest. Web.

Written by: Carly Mazzone