‘Making History’ by Brian Friel.
‘Making History’ by Brian Friel.
In this essay the author examines the extent to which Is the character of Hugh O’Neill is more influenced by private feelings or by public duty.
In Brian Friels play ‘Making History’ the reader wonders whether the character of Hugh O’Neill is more influenced by private feelings or public duty. By “private feeling’s” I mean beliefs, private views and opinions and his ‘public duty’ is his obligations to the Irish people. It should be noted that Friels portrayal of the character O’Neill caused great controversy amongst readers. The strong Irish man O’Neill was once seen as in history is no longer present. Instead we see a very complex and almost emotional character in Friel’s play. This leads us to wonder if Friel’s portrayal is correct. In my next few paragraphs I will discuss this argument with special reference to the passage but also to other selected moments in the play. I will also analyse Friel’s use of dramatic techniques in these selected moments.
At the very end of the play in Act 2 Scene 2 we see Lombard on stage with Hugh. They are discussing the writing of “The History”. In this extract we see Hugh’s private feelings on numerous times throughout it. He is adamant that Mabel should play a major role in ‘The History’. Lombard however protests telling Hugh that he was the hero not Mabel. Saying things like “How many heroes’ can one history accommodate?” Lombard’s idea of the history is to recreate this Great Irish Chieftain in a book again. So the Irish people can remember this man who spent his whole life fighting for them. However Hugh rejects this image. Hugh however doesn’t seem himself. Rather he sees himself as a coward and a failure. His public duty would be to go along with Lombard but his private feelings overwhelm him. In this scene Friel uses the dramatic technique of props and symbolism. This book to O’Neill represents his failure in life and he shows us this when he “shuts the book in fury”. Hugh
In this essay the author examines the extent to which Is the character of Hugh O’Neill is more influenced by private feelings or by public duty.
In Brian Friels play ‘Making History’ the reader wonders whether the character of Hugh O’Neill is more influenced by private feelings or public duty. By “private feeling’s” I mean beliefs, private views and opinions and his ‘public duty’ is his obligations to the Irish people. It should be noted that Friels portrayal of the character O’Neill caused great controversy amongst readers. The strong Irish man O’Neill was once seen as in history is no longer present. Instead we see a very complex and almost emotional character in Friel’s play. This leads us to wonder if Friel’s portrayal is correct. In my next few paragraphs I will discuss this argument with special reference to the passage but also to other selected moments in the play. I will also analyse Friel’s use of dramatic techniques in these selected moments.
At the very end of the play in Act 2 Scene 2 we see Lombard on stage with Hugh. They are discussing the writing of “The History”. In this extract we see Hugh’s private feelings on numerous times throughout it. He is adamant that Mabel should play a major role in ‘The History’. Lombard however protests telling Hugh that he was the hero not Mabel. Saying things like “How many heroes’ can one history accommodate?” Lombard’s idea of the history is to recreate this Great Irish Chieftain in a book again. So the Irish people can remember this man who spent his whole life fighting for them. However Hugh rejects this image. Hugh however doesn’t seem himself. Rather he sees himself as a coward and a failure. His public duty would be to go along with Lombard but his private feelings overwhelm him. In this scene Friel uses the dramatic technique of props and symbolism. This book to O’Neill represents his failure in life and he shows us this when he “shuts the book in fury”. Hugh