Cherie Haines, Associate Professor
World Literature, Wednesday AM
March 20, 2013
Trouble and Exile in Mary Beckett 's “A Belfast Woman” and Liam O 'Flaherty 's “Going Into Exile”
Ireland has a great history that goes back ages ago. There are many stories written about Ireland. Liam O’Flaherty’s “Going into Exile” and Mary Beckett’s “A Belfast Woman” are short stories written about Ireland. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” have historical elements. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” have sociological elements. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” have psychological elements. These stories hold a certain message for people. Ireland is comprised of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The four ecclesiastical provinces are Ulster, Leinster, Munster, and Connaught. Within the provinces there are 32 countries. The whole island was under British rule before the partition in 1920-1922. Settlement of Ireland first took place in 6000 BC by hunters and fishers. The Gaels settled on the island around 600 and 150 BC. The Gaels subdued the hunters and fishers (Holwell).
The island was organized into five kingdoms around the time of Christ. Seven independent kingdoms had evolved in 400 AD. The kingdom’s kings had their armies raid neighboring Roman Britain and the Continent. One of the raids resulted in a 16 year old boy being captured and sold into slavery. The boy turned to religion during his enslavement and escaped when he was 22. He studied theology in the Roman church. He returned to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity. This person was Ireland’s patron, Saint Patrick (Holwell).
Ireland came under attack from the Vikings in the 9th and 10th centuries. The Danes invaded the island and were followed by Danish settlers in 853. The Danish settlers gradually assimilated with the local population and adopted Christianity. In 1152 the four ecclesiastical provinces were created. Gaelic and Danish elements helped form a united Church. The reform, and others advocated by the Irish church were frowned on by some. Pope Adrian IV was one of the people who frowned on the reform. He conferred on Henry II of England the lordship of Ireland in 1155. In 1168 the English invaded the island. The English began invoking reforms that deal with the granting of land and violated the traditional political and social structure (Holwell).
From the 12th century to 1400, Norman’s from England moved to Ireland. The Norman’s settled on the eastern areas. There was a conflict between the native Irish and the colonists. A law was enacted to keep the two populations separate in 1367. Henry VII extended English law to the entirety of Ireland. He also assumed supremacy over the existing Irish parliament. He tried to separate the Irish Church from the Papacy when he became king. When Queen Elizabeth ascended to the thrown Roman Catholicism became linked with Irish sentiment. The Irish refused to accept English imposed change (Holwell).
Northern Ireland conflict is centuries old. Constant revolts challenged the British rule of Ireland since the 12th century. This set of a chain of events which lead to civil war and partition of the island. Twenty-six countries in the south formed a separate state. Six countries in the north stayed within the UK. The Catholic minority in the north suffered discrimination over housing and jobs (Quick guide: Conflict in Northern Ireland).
The ‘Troubles’ begin in 1969. Catholic civil rights marches and counter-protests by Protest loyalists resulted in violent unrest. British troops were sent in to help but they got into conflict with the IRA (Irish Republic Army). Loyalist paramilitary groups started a campaign of violence against the Catholic community. As things begun to get worse, Northern Ireland’s parliament was suspended. Then direct rule imposed from London (Quick guide: Conflict in Northern Ireland).
There was violence on all sides. Paramilitary groups waged violent campaigns throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. The IRA carried out deadly bomb and gun attacks in Britain and Northern Ireland. The attacks targeted police, soldiers, politicians, and civilians. Catholics were targeted by loyalist paramilitaries in “tit-for-tat” killings. Police and British forces tried to keep order. Even though the police and British troops tried to keep order it resulted in controversy (Quick guide: Conflict in Northern Ireland).
There was peace in sight in the early 1990s. Negotiations took place between political parties and the British and Irish governments. After several years IRA and loyalist ceasefires held. Also in 1998 the “Good Friday” agreement was signed. The agreement set up a power-sharing executive, which included ministerial posts distributed by party strength, and elected assembly. The deal had been backed by voters in referendums in Northern Ireland and the Republic. This scrapped its constitutional claim to the north (Quick guide: Conflict in Northern Ireland).
In modern times the conflict is on opposing views of the area’s status. People in Northern Ireland believe it should remain part of the United Kingdom. Those people are mainly Protestant Unionists. Others believe it should leave the United Kingdom and become part of the Republic of Ireland. Those people are mainly Catholic Nationalists (Quick guide: Conflict in Northern Ireland).
These stories have historical elements in them. A historical element in “Going into Exile” is the hardships mentioned. The line that mentions hardships is “Her mother’s life loomed up before her eyes, a life of continual misery and suffering, hard work, birth pangs, sickness and again hard work and hunger and anxiety” (O 'Flaherty). This line shows that Mary’s mother faced hardships in her life. Mary’s mother most likely faced hardships because she is Catholic. Catholics were targeted in Ireland by violence. A historical element in “A Belfast Woman” is the Troubles. The story is set in the 1970s and the Troubles started in 1969. Since the story is set in these times you can see how it shows the historical presence. The Troubles is the conflict between Protestant and Catholic factors in Northern Ireland. Belfast was especially torn by violence on both sides.
A sociological element in “Going into Exile” is that they are living in poverty because of the government. There are two lines that show they are living in poverty. One line is “Feeney himself, a black-bearded, red-faced, middle-aged peasant…” (O 'Flaherty). This line states that Mr. Feeney is a peasant, which is a member of a class of people who are small farmers or farm laborers of low social rank. The other line is “It was kind of Uncle Ned to lend the money for the dance, father,” he said. “I‘d hate to think that we’d have to go without something or other, just the same as everybody else has. I’ll send you money the very first money I earn, father… even before I pay Aunt Mary for my passage money. I should have all that money paid off in four months, and then I’ll have more money to send you by Christmas” (O 'Flaherty).This line shows that others in their community are also poor because they go without. It also shows that they had to borrow the money for their travels and the party because they couldn’t afford it. A sociological element in “A Belfast Woman” is Mrs. Harrison family was struggling when she was younger. Her father had T.B. because of the pollution and died as a result of it. Her grandmother also died so it was up to her mom, her sister, and her to work at a mill. It was also hard on them because people were being threatened for employing or working with a Catholic.
These stories have psychological elements in them. A psychological element in “Going into Exile” is that Michael is motivated to make money. “Michael felt very strong and manly recounting what he was going to do when he got to Boston, Massachusetts. He told himself that with his great strength he would earn a great deal of money” (O 'Flaherty).This line shows Michaels motivation to earn money. A psychological element in “A Belfast Woman” is that Mrs. Harrison remembers what happened in the past. There are two events that she remembers that the letter brings out. “One of the first things I remember in my life was wakening up with my mother screaming downstairs when we were burnt out in 1921” (Beckett). This line states the first memory she thinks of because of the letter. “In 1935 when we got the letter threatening to burn us out I said to my mother “We’ll gather our things and we’ll go.” So we did and like all the rest of them in our street we went up to Glenard to the new houses.” (Beckett). This line states the second memory she thinks of because of the letter.
The stories may have many messages for someone. The message that “Going into Exile” has for me is that there are opportunities. The characters have the opportunity to go to America for a better future. Even though there are opportunities there are still sacrifices. The two children have to leave behind their family in order to go off and make money. So this story makes me realize that we must all give up something in order to have an opportunity. The message that “A Belfast Woman” has for me is that no matter how much darkness and hurt there is there is always hope. It is symbolized in the end when the man brings up the sunset. This story to me shows you there will be obstacles but we just have to get through them.
As you can see Ireland has a lot of history. In short Northern Ireland conflict is centuries old. There were the Troubles occurring from 1969 till the early 1990s. Still Ireland is in debate about the area’s status. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” has historical elements. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” have sociological elements. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” have psychological elements. These stories hold those messages for me.
References
BBC News. 29 June 2006. 2013. .
Beckett, Mary. A Belfast Woman. 1980.
Holwell, John. Genealogy Pro. n.d. 2013. .
O 'Flaherty, Liam. Going into Exile. 1929.
References: BBC News. 29 June 2006. 2013. . Beckett, Mary. A Belfast Woman. 1980. Holwell, John. Genealogy Pro. n.d. 2013. . O 'Flaherty, Liam. Going into Exile. 1929.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Because of Ireland’s geographical proximity to Great Britain the two nations suffered from a long, drawn out history of English colonization, as well as christianization, of Ireland and Irish reactionary resistance. The conquests of Ireland spanned from the first with the Tudor conquest of the 1530s to the second conquest in 1641 to the third conquest in 1690 in which Britain took full control over Ireland. With the suppression of yet another Irish uprising against British rule in 1798, Great Britain declared the Act of Union of 1801, thereby incorporating Ireland into the United Kingdom. The act was met with opposition from Irish nationalists and the independent republic of the Irish Free State was established in 1922 from the southern provinces of the island. Between 1800 and 1916 controversies over the relationship between the English and the Irish were a direct result of British imperialism, religious tensions, and Irish nationalism.…
- 1301 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
During Frank McCourt’s 1996 novel Angela’s Ashes, the birth of Margaret significantly alters Frank’s father, Malachy’s life. Although her life was short, Margaret changes the dynamic of the McCourt family. She brings happiness to her father, which in turn stops his horrid drinking habit. Margaret arguably has the biggest affect on her father, after she dies. In his novel Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt’s younger sister Margaret plays a crucial role in the his father’s life.…
- 708 Words
- 3 Pages
Better Essays -
As far back as the 1600s there has been trouble between the people of Ireland. The people were divided into two groups, the Catholics and the Protestants. Both groups believed that they were superior over the other. Protestants believe Catholics were not entitled to equal rights. The Catholics fought back causing a divide in the country.…
- 154 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
It all began with the Celts going into Ireland. They came about around 600 B.C and crossed the Rhine. Some settled in France and became the Gauls, and others settled in Britain and became the Britons. 50 years after Celtic tribes reached Britain, they had finally spread into Ireland. They were an illiterate, aristocratic, seminomadic, Iron Age warrior culture. Ireland’s wealth came from their animal husbandry and slavery. Because they were isolated in the Atlantic, the Irish suffered few…
- 1048 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
During the middle Ages the British Crown controlled the eastern side of Ireland. They increased their control until 1603 when they achieved complete control of Ireland. The British remained in power by taking away the Irish people’s land and reallocating it to Scottish farmers. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was formed in 1801. The Irish people were upset by this and did not want to lose their independence.…
- 971 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Florence Walzl’s critical analysis of James Joyce’s The Dubliners sheds light on common themes in Irish society that is seen in Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes. The critical analysis discusses the hardships the youth in Ireland must overcome only to grow older into a society that shames them for everything they do. This is the basis for Frank Mccourt’s memoir Angela’s Ashes which provides first hand examples of how the treatment of the Irish during childhood influences the path of their lives. When a child is raised in a society that is based on shame and disillusionment, they become trapped or irritated of everyone. After a child is raised in such a way that hinders their free will, they will grow to be passive or non-productive adults. Once…
- 1239 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
England learned a lot about its colonization of Ireland. David B. Quinn, also known as D.B.Q., has explored the connections between Ireland and the new world in two of his books; Raleigh and the British Empire and The Elizabethans and the Irish. In his books D.B.Q. discussed how the English conceived negative connotations towards the Irish population and how they dealt with it. At some points the English sought to convey their better ways, and to convert the Irishman into Englishman. At other times the English just wanted to be dominant over the Irish. England learned from their many mistakes in its Irish Colonies. In Quinn’s The Elizabethans and the Irish he frequently discussed two particular principles that characterized Tudor policies…
- 1269 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
The majority of Irish people post 1000 A.D were Catholic. In Ireland, there were laws enforced by the British government that removed power form the Catholics. These laws were called the Penal Laws. They never went under the church reform that England did in the 1500s. Because of all this, the British government used religious differences as a political tool towards the increasing colonial activity and so the English were considered a ruling class and the Irish were seen and treated as a minority. The Penal laws were intended to degrade the Irish so severely that they wouldn’t ever be able to threaten the Protestant rule. Most of the large farms in Ireland were owned by Protestants. This was because when a Catholic land owner died, the estate was equally divided among his sons, diluting the value. Also, if he had a Protestant son, that son would inherit all the land. This led to poverty. The environment that the Irish had to live in was very unhygienic. A census report in 1841 found that nearly half the families in rural areas lived in windowless mud cabins, most with no furniture other than a chair. It was said that pigs slept with their owners and heaps of manure lay by the doors.…
- 1010 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The modern political history of Ireland can be separated into two time periods. The first period is it's time spent under British rule as only one territory of the United Kingdom. The second period, which represents the beginning of the modern Irish state, took place during the early twentieth century. The road to national sovereignty was neither easy nor short as Britain was far from eager to let its dependent state go. The first organized movement towards independence occurred in 1916 when revolutionaries declared Ireland to be free from British rule on Easter of that year. Despite the ultimate failure of this initial push towards freedom Britain eventually granted the southern 26, of 38, counties dominion status in 1921. Further steps were taken in 1937 when Ireland drafted its constitution and was granted full sovereignty. The final phase in southern Ireland's independence came in 1949 when its status as a British commonwealth ended and the nation was declared a republic. However, even after disassociating itself from the United Kingdom the southern counties of Ireland wouldn't be completely satisfied as long as the remaining 6 counties that comprised Northern Ireland were still a part of Britain's empire. The predominantly protestant northern counties of Ireland have been a barrier to peace in the region from the first days of the Republic up to today. These counties are considered as a separate state but can also be considered as the same nation. This topic will be explored in more depth after the explanations of both the current Irish state as well as what can be considered the Irish nation.…
- 1583 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
The history of the English presence in Ireland is a long and contentious one, dating back to the 12th century when the English first arrived. Acts of rebellion against the English occured frequently, but the English continued to consolidate their power over the island - particulary in the northern province of Ulster - culm inating in the merging of Ireland and Great Britain to create the United Kingdom in 1801.…
- 579 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
John Clyn, an irish friar wrote in his chronicle that the first breakout in Ireland was in Dalkey and Droghech, two small coast towns of the Pale, and people began to die in Dublin at the beginning of August 1348.…
- 553 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Metress, Seamus . "THE GREAT STARVATION AND BRITISH IMPERIALISM IN IRELAND." The Irish People. Univirsity of Toldeo. University of Toledo, Toledo. 10 Jan. 1996. Lecture.…
- 1620 Words
- 7 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Over the centuries the Irish people suffered from war, hunger, abuse, occupation, and religious persecution but through it all remained the people they knew who they truly were. The Irish people are arguably the most persecuted society in the western world but through all the suffering the Irish people held true to their culture and fought for what was theirs. The British Empire may have released their control over many countries with a struggle but none like the battle for the Emerald Isle. The Irish fought tooth and nail and emerge as an independent nation. There are 10 events that I believe contributed to the creation of the Eire over the centuries.…
- 687 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Bibliography: Carpenter, Richard P. "The sadness of saying goodbye Ireland exhibit recalls the era of emigration." Boston Globe 12 Oct 1997, City Edition ed.: M.9.…
- 1902 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Bibliography: Beckett, J.C. (1981). The Making of Modern Ireland 1603-1923, London, Cox & Wyman Ltd.…
- 1716 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays