Language, communication, and the power of words are the key components of this play. As a reader we are presented with a community who speaks Gaelic, Greek, and Latin. Friel presents the audience with numerous situations where translations, or reinterpretations, between the Irish people and British characters do not reflect the reality and truth of a particular situation. When Owen attempts to interpret Captain Lancey we see first hand the effect translation has between languages. The explanation for the Captain and Lieutenant's presence is simplified and not completely true. This lack of translation is best represented between Marie and Yolland. The feelings they feels for each other cannot be expressed in words. Instead, their emotions transcend the language barrier that prevents them from expressing their feelings in the most obvious way--language. In this scene the importance is not found in the words, but emotion. The loss of words that occurs continuously throughout the play was first represented by Sarah in the very beginning of act I. I have been drawn to this character from the beginning and I feel that she represents the Irish communities loss of language and name. Her difficulty speaking caused me to immediately empathize for her and her inability to express her feelings towards Manus. The unspoken words, as well as those lost in translation, are the most important aspects of this play.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Unspoken Words
Language, communication, and the power of words are the key components of this play. As a reader we are presented with a community who speaks Gaelic, Greek, and Latin. Friel presents the audience with numerous situations where translations, or reinterpretations, between the Irish people and British characters do not reflect the reality and truth of a particular situation. When Owen attempts to interpret Captain Lancey we see first hand the effect translation has between languages. The explanation for the Captain and Lieutenant's presence is simplified and not completely true. This lack of translation is best represented between Marie and Yolland. The feelings they feels for each other cannot be expressed in words. Instead, their emotions transcend the language barrier that prevents them from expressing their feelings in the most obvious way--language. In this scene the importance is not found in the words, but emotion. The loss of words that occurs continuously throughout the play was first represented by Sarah in the very beginning of act I. I have been drawn to this character from the beginning and I feel that she represents the Irish communities loss of language and name. Her difficulty speaking caused me to immediately empathize for her and her inability to express her feelings towards Manus. The unspoken words, as well as those lost in translation, are the most important aspects of this play.
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2 comments:
I agree that 'Translation' is mostly on emotion and gestures instead of actual words. I feel that Sarah represents that message. She, just like the play implies, words can only be useful to a point, then emotions and gestures are what is important.
Great reading of Sarah. Keeping your ideas in mind, why do you think the play opens with her exchange with Manus?
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