1. Communication
Principal example is the miscommunication between Gar and S.B.
The evening before Gar leaves, S.B. is more interested in work talk than emotional talk with his son.
Due to this S.B. i seen as cold and Gar Public shows indifference in the first few scenes but Gar Private shows his true thought, his anger and bitterness.
It can be seen that Gar does try his best to communicate with S.B..
He offers a second cup of tea to him, who rejects it saying he never takes a second cup.
In Episode 3 Gar's mind wanders to his childhood with S.B. while Private questions S.B. if he even remembers.
After this Gar himself asks S.B. even though Private goes as far as calling it a dream and turns out S.B. has no recollection of their fishing trip.
S.B. is also seen to recall taking Gar to school and remembers how much they used to chat which would conclude that there wasn't always such a communication barrier between them.
The tragedy is that they are unable to communicate these memories, especially S.B. which makes Gar assume he lacks affection of feelings.
The most prolonged dialogue is between Gar Public and Gar Private.
Dialogue between other characters is short an self-centred.
For example after a brief mention of Gars departure Boyle's conversation is only about himself.
The problem of self-expression is also dominant here as Boyle talks about his controversy with Cannon casually but seems ill at ease representing hidden feelings.
The Boys chatter loudly telling stories of adventure that are made up and get awkward whenever silence occurs.
When it's time to say goodbye to Gar they are stuck for words.
Tom leaves without goodbye and Ned gives him a farewell gift and leaves awkwardly.
The problem again is not the lack of affection but the lack of communication.
In this case though, Gar is able to see their feelings and thinks of them in good terms.
The communication barrier between Gar and Senator also represents a class barrier.
How the rich are able to intimidate those below them.Aunt Lizzy is seen to express too much and she seemingly is not liked by other characters as much either.
Friel represent characters that talk too little or too much representing so many contrasts such as cultural differences, (American and Irish) class difference, generation gap.
The problem noted here Gar is that he regards no expression as a lack of feelings in many cases except the Boys case.
Final words of Gar and S.B. 'I don't know' captures their shared bewilderment that both connects and separates them.
2. Escape
Migration was a popular idea at that time.
American Dream of wealth and prosperity.
Gar is attracted by the opportunities and hopes to find motherly love from his aunt.
Gar wants to escape Ballybeg due to his past experiences (Kate, mother's death, perhaps unsatisfactory financial conditions) and due to the lack of affection he receives from his father.
3. Alterego
A person's inner thoughts, in this case Gar Private.
May be cruel.
Convey's the emotions Gar Public is not able to.Speaks openly.
Could be the representation of a psychological disorder brought upon by loneliness.
Gar talks back to him.
He tries to convince Gar like about going to Philadelphia, not asking the Senate for Kate's hand.
Gar Public blames him for his foul thoughts.
4. Relationships
Father son strained relationship.
Broken relationship with Kate.
Madge shown to be the mother figure but can't express herself so that kind of bond between her and Gar is absent.
Gar often contemplates his mother's relationship with his father and Boyle.
The awkward yet sincere relationship between Gar and the Boys.
Relationship with Aunt Lizzy based on circumstances and hope.
Relationships between Gar Public and Private. How Private represents fear anger and sadness.
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English Literature 9695
Literatura FaktuThis is a compilation of all the essays and notes I wrote while I was in ALevels. It must be noted that not all of of these are A* material (though none goes lower than a grade B) so they aren't meant to be copy pasted for your school assignments. U...
