Postmodernist strategies in contemporary Irish drama and nationalism

Post-Modernist Features of Contemporary Irish Literature

The Irish have always had a strong sense of itself as a nation and as a way of thinking. Although Ireland has often been associated and defined by its political activity, the core beliefs and opinions of the Irish are have been best expressed through literary activity. As a result, contemporary Irish literature has provided some of the most compelling and tragic literature in the English-speaking language. Building on the tradition of modern Irish literature and its themes of personal and national discontent, it provides a very honest, self-confrontational sort of introspection rarely seen in literature.

Contemporary Irish literature continues Modern Irish literature's focus on nationalism and religion and, more importantly, a uniformly critical treatment of those themes. However, Contemporary Irish Literature provides alternative perspectives on the themes of Nationalism and religion, often resulting in sort of self-reflexivity and parody indicative of post-Modernist literature in general but distinctly Irish in voice.

Background

The "Steward of Christendom" is a play written in 1995 by Irish author Sebastian Barry. It follows the experiences of former police captain under the British regime in Ireland, Thomas Dunne,. It describes his fall in status as a result of Irish independence and the new political order that succeeds it. Dunne is very similar to the majority of Ireland, as a Catholic instead of a Protestant like the British. However, he is ostracized from Irish society because of his former association with the British.

The "Cripple of Inishmaan" is a play written in 1996 by London-born Irish author Martin McDonagh. Set in the 1930's, it describes the experiences of a crippled Irish orphan, Billy Claven, who moves to the Aran islands from the neighboring, rural town of Inishman to audition for a Hollywood movie. Inishmore is known for its poverty, isolation, and backwardness, yet is also known by the Irish, perhaps tellingly, for its "Irishnssness." Claven encounters much ignorance, cruelty, and mistreatment at the hands of his townsmen in Inishmore, which is partly the reason he wants to visit the island and the fiml crew.

Analysis

Modernism and Post-Modernism

Contemporary Irish literature shares many similarities with Modern Irish literature, in fact, was largely influential in the development and concretization of certain themes, particularly nationalism and religion. It deals with many of the same themes that Modernist writers like James Joyce dealt with, nationalism, religion, and class. Thus, contemporary Irish literature is highly reflective of the values of Modernist literature.

Contemporary Irish literature, however is distinct from modern Irish literature because of this focus on non-mainstream themes. Contemporary Irish literature demonstrates many characteristics of what is termed in academic circles as "Post-Modernism."

Self-Reflexivity and Self-Parody

Contemporary Irish literature also demonstrates the Postmodernist feature of parody and general irreverence. This features is illustrated in "The Cripple of Inishman," where a cripple in Ireland moves to an island off of Inishmore, a town known for its "Irishness," in order to audition for a Hollywood movie. The play is undoubtedly a comedy, yet it deals with the notion of Nationalism and the notion of national character. pokes fun at the mythicization and presentation of Ireland and the Irish by depciting the misrepresentation and mythologizing of Inishmore's colorful assembly of townsmen.

McDonagh's vision of Inishmore is dominated by his self-reflexivity as an Irishmen. His satire is meant to reveal the tendency of the Irish to tell stories about themselves which are not only inaccurate and unfounded but self-limiting. The effect of this habit is illustrated in the misfortune of the townsmen, both the virtuous ones like BabbyBobby and the unvirtuous such as the town gossip Johnny. McDonagh's lesson however, reveals a more general lesson promotd by Post-Modernist literature, the importance of storytelling in life as well as literature.

Alternative Perspectives

One major feature is the focus on people and perspectives left out of the dominant national narrative. The "Steward of Christendom," for example, deals with the plight of a man left out of the dominant Irish group, the politically anti-British, because he used to work for the British regime as a policemen. In what appears to be an ironic incidence of meta-theater, McDonagh's play, "The Cripple of Inishman," was rejected as true Irish literature because its author was raised an England. In this way, Contemporary Irish literature reveals the disenfranchised and ignored, English-associated Irishmen, within the disenfranchised and ignored, the Irish.

Conclusion

Although contemporary Irish literature indicates major changes in the direction of Irish literature, these changes are ultimately driven by the same feelings and outlook as earlier Irish literature, in fact, of all Irish literature. This is most uncontroversially described as a uniquely critical and dissenting spirit, with a compelling voice for that spirit. Thus, the new directions of Contemporary Irish literature, though a self-conscious reaction to Modern Irish literature can be understood as "Irish literature" at its core.

Ironically, the skeptical spirit of contemporary Irish literature has confronted the very notion of "Irishness" itself. This is somewhat problematic because, by puncturing the very notion of "Irishness" itself, it might serve to de-legitimize the notion of "Irish" literature. Yet, it does not seem to have this effect. In fact, the continuation of that uniquely skeptical voice serves to legitimize and clarify the notion of "Irish literature."