Changing the way you learn

DaL

Characters
1. Narrator Michael
  1. Repeated use of 'when I cast my mind back' shows it is memory
    1. 'when' suggests he has moved on
    2. memories 'offer themselves to [him]
      1. Michaels power and the power of memory
2. Boy Michael
  1. has minimal dialogue
    1. finds his voice after leaving
    2. Lines are spoken by offstage adult Michael
3. Uncle Jack
  1. Missionary - home from Africa
  2. Difficulty adapting to life in Balleybeg
  3. Grammatically incorrect speech - shows his
4. Gerry
  1. Michael's absent father
  2. English accent - despite living in Ireland and Wales
  3. Personification of outside world
    1. At first seems flirtatious and nice but is revealed to be manipulative
    2. Temps Chris but is fickle
5. Kate
  1. Teacher
  2. Formal speech
  3. Head of house
  4. Represents tradition
6. Agnes
  1. Looks after Rose
7. Chris
8. Rose
  1. Mentally delayed
  2. Childlike speech and mannerisms
    1. Endearing and comic relief
9. Maggie
  1. Comedic - used to relieve tension
  2. Forgets punchline to joke - foreshadowing downfall as tension is not relieved
    1. Nature of memory
Relationships
1. Rose & Danny Bradley
  1. He is married and Rose is naive about what he wants from her
2. Gerry & Uncle Jack
  1. Both migrants
  2. Hat exchange
    1. Shared experience
Context
1. Poverty and unemployment in 1930s Ireland lead to much migration
  1. This situation is not explicitly referenced but implications are made
    1. Opening of the factory leading to Rose and Agnes's job loss
      1. Industrialisation
2. 1936
Religion
1. Catholicism
  1. Kate - voice of tradition - believes the radio 'killed all Christian conversation in this country'
    1. Outside influence
2. Paganism
  1. Links to Uncle Jack's spiritual practices in Uganda
    1. Native dances and scarifices
  2. Play is set during pagen harvest ritual of Lughnasa
  3. Michael's kites have mask-like faces
Dancing
1. Music
  1. Marconi
    1. Works sporadically
      1. Temporary happiness
  2. Gerry singing "Anything Goes" while dancing with Agnes
    1. Sexually suggestive lyrics
      1. Foreshadowing Gerry's secret wife & child
    2. Carefree
    3. Influence of world outside Balleybeg
2. Kate sees dancing as sexual freedom
  1. Pagan ideals
  2. Kate's dancing is reserved
3. Tribal Rituals

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DaL

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	Created by daisyround over 10 years ago