Lady
Gregory’s The Rising of the Moon is a political play dealing with the relation
between England and Ireland. Here we find Ireland trying to free itself from
the English rule. The English has dominated over Ireland for a long period of
time. In this play we find that the characters are torn between duty and
patriotism and are ultimately united together as Irishmen through the folklore,
myths and songs which they share as a nation. The thought of being the citizen
of a country is considered as more important over one’s feelings of duty
towards of foreign nation
Patriotism
is the force that unites the people of a country. Lady Gregory’s play written
in Irish English presents two characters. One is an Irish patriot with a prize
on his head who is involved in the Irish struggle for freedom. The other person
is a sergeant who is on the look-out for him. He is posted at the harbor to
check whether the wanted man who has escaped is seen passing by. The sergeant
is a poor family man who is badly in need of money. The patriot comes that way
disguised as a ballad singer. He sings patriotic folk songs and arouses the
sergeant’s nationalistic feelings. Finally he identifies him but does not
arrest him. He lets him go and willingly loses the reward. His patriotism outweighs
his duty. The scene is a harbor somewhere in Ireland. The British are still the
rulers and the Irish patriots are still fighting for their country’s
independence. One such Irish nationalist has been arrested but he has escaped
from jail. The authorities put a prize on his head and the play begins with a
sergeant and two policemen pasting a notice or a placard with physical details
of the escaped prisoner.
The
sergeant suggests that they put up the notice on the barrel. There is a flight
of steps that lead to the barrel. This
place must e watched because there is every chance that the friends of the
escape might bring a boat there to help him get away to some a safe place. The
sergeant reads the placard and feels sorry that he had not seen before he escaped
from the jail. He knows that the wanted man is no ordinary criminal but an
important political figure. He is the person who makes all the plans for the
entire Irish nationalist organization. The sergeant believes that he could not
have escaped without the support some of the jailors. Policeman B says that the
hundred pounds reward is not enough but he is sure that any policeman who
captures him will get promotion. The sergeant then says that he will mind the place
himself because he is sure that he will be able to catch the wanted man
himself. However he regrets the fact there is no one to help him. He, being a
family man requires the money.
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