How We Analyze Riders to the Sea

By Student World

The play highlights the plight of humans in very adverse circumstances, particularly focusing on the relentless cruelty of the sea. It shows human struggle against the elements.

It is said that Synge’s friend William Butler Yeats had urged Synge to travel to the Aran Island and spend a few days there to personally observe the lifestyle of the people living there.

Synge followed his friend’s instructions and went to the Aran Islands. He was fascinated by the way of life of the people living there. He was told a story of a man being washed up on the island of Inishmann.

How We Analyze Riders to the Sea
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Major Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Dec 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370759484

Book preview

How We Analyze Riders to the Sea

Copyright

How We Analyze Riders to the Sea

Student World

Copyright@2016 Student World

Smashwords Edition

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Content

How We Analyze Riders to the Sea

Copyright

Chapter One: Introduction

Chapter Two: Plot Overview

Chapter Three: Major Characters

Chapter Four: Complete Summary

Chapter Five: Critical Analysis

Chapter One: Introduction

Riders to the Sea by John Millington Synge was first performed on 25th February, 1904, at the Molesworth Hall, Dublin. The play was staged by the Irish National Theater Society.

It is a one-act tragedy. The play is set in the Aran Islands, Inishmann. Similar to other plays by Synge, this play also presents the poetic dialogue of rural Ireland.

The play highlights the plight of humans in very adverse circumstances, particularly focusing on the relentless cruelty of the sea. It shows human struggle against the elements.

It is said that Synge’s friend William Butler Yeats had urged Synge to travel to the Aran Island and spend a few days there to personally observe the lifestyle of the people living there.

Synge followed his friend’s instructions and went to the Aran Islands. He was fascinated by the way of life of the people living there. He was told a story of a man being washed up on the island of Inishmann.

That tragic event gave him the idea of a plot for a story which led to the inspiration to write the present play. In this way, Riders to the Sea came into existence.

The play primarily explores to significant themes, sea and omen and foreboding that run throughout the play. Most of the events that occur during the play are in one or the other way related to the sea.

Right at the beginning of the play, one is able to predict that something tragic is going to happen soon. The dialogue and the suspicions in the household suggest omen and foreboding.

Maurya, an old woman, is the protagonist of the play. When the play begins, she begins to talk about her lost sons. She talks about her sons who had sacrificed their lives to the seas.

It becomes quite predictable that the role of sea in the lives of Maurya, her family, and the other islanders is very important, as well as threatening. The entre