Synge and Irish Nationalism - The Percusor to Revolution

One of the most important playwrights of the Irish Renaissance, John Millington Synge is receiving renewed attention as his works are reread in light of the political and cultural contexts of his time. This book argues that his plays are far more deeply rooted, thematically and aesthetically, in the ancient native literature than was previously believed. It demonstrates that Synge borrowed themes and ideology from the ancient culture, serving as a nationalist agenda far more radical and modern than the agendas of the most common nationalists in his day. Synge rejects these nationalists, whom he believed were embracing foreign influences that were drowning Ireland in conservatively capitalistic initiatives and values.

The book's most important section examines ^IThe Playboy of the Western World.^R It discusses the play's characters as representative and recognizable types and reconsiders the play's thematic depiction of violence. Synge's representation of both commenced the process of separating and identifying the nationalist camps in Dublin from 1907 on. The volume argues that Synge's play drafted what became the Easter Rising. This argument is furthered through Synge's ^IDeirdre of the Sorrows^R and the influence that his works ultimately bore on the plays and ideologies of Thomas MacDonagh, Padaraic Pearse, and James Connolly. The book also explores the acting style originally used to perform Synge's plays, thus gathering further evidence for its argument.

List of contents

Introduction
Prologue
"Everything Irish"
A Theatre of Violence
A Gallous Story and a Gallous Deed
The Performance of Synge
Epilogue
Works Cited
Index

About the author

NELSON O'CEALLAIGH RITSCHEL is Assistant Professor of Humanities at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. His essays have appeared in such journals as LIT: Literature, Interpretation, Theory and New Hibernia Review. His previous books include Productions of the Irish Theatre Movement, 1899-1916 (Greenwood, 2001).

Summary

A reassessment of the dramatic canon of Irish Renaissance poet, John Millington Synge. It argues that his plays, including "The Playboy of the Western World", are far more deeply rooted, thematically and aesthetically, in the ancient native literature than was previously believed.

Product details

• Authors: ceallaigh, Nelson Ritschel, Nelson O&apos Ritschel, Nelson O. Ritschel, Nelson O'ceallaigh Ritschel, Ritschel Nelson
• Publisher: Greenwood Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 29.11.2002
• EAN: 9780313324246
• ISBN: 978-0-313-32424-6
• Dimensions: 160 mm x 240 mm x 15 mm
• Series: Contributions in Drama and The; Contributions in Drama & Theatre Studies; Contributions in Drama and The
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; English, LITERARY CRITICISM / Poetry, 20th Century, LITERARY CRITICISM / Drama, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 20th Century, Ireland, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, Literary studies: poetry & poets, Literary studies: from c 1900 -, Literary studies: c 1900 to c 2000, Literary studies: plays & playwrights, Literary studies: poetry and poets, Literary studies: plays and playwrights, The Arts: Drama