Intermediary and Oppressor: How Owen Is Depicted in Act 1 of Translations Tiana Krkotic College

Brian Friel’s political play ‘Translations’ set in 1833, Baile Beag, is about: British Imperial rule over Ireland in the 1830s; how the British Military enforced 'translations' of the ancient Gaelic language into English to subjugate the Irish; and, the emotional and moral conflict between Yolland (a British Soldier) and Maire (Irish Hedge School Student) when they fall in love contrary to their own political side. In Act 1, we see how Friel presents Owen as a traitor and a manipulative intermediary between the British Military and the Irish community in his mendacious translation from English to Gaelic. The growing conflict here between the two political sides is also demonstrated when Owen decides to translate conversation between Maire and Yolland despite him knowing that Manus is engaged to her and when he acts like everything is mundane despite the massive colonisation of Ireland and anglicisation of Gaelic place names to Manus: Friel in this play constantly foreshadows in this part of the extract to the audience how the growing tension will result in conflict which is clearly seen later on in Act Three. He uses Owen in this part of the play as a symbol representing the British soldiers' ignorance towards the Irish...