Essays: Translations by Brian Friel

The values and attitudes of the audience may often come into conflict with the representation of (a) certain character(s) within a play. These perceptions may mean the protagonist, or her, of a text, may not be viewed as such, and rather as a fool. A fool is defined as a person who lacks judgement or sense, although it is a different sort of fool who has taken its place in the history of literature. The fool was originally a court jester, part of the entertainment that served as the link between royalty and the commoners. This evolved as a professional art form, and eventually made its way into literature (Shakespeare was well known for incorporating this particular stock character). Translations by Brian Friel explores the dispossession of the Irish by the English, literally, culturally and linguistically. We, as the audience, are presented with the perspective of the situation from a number of different characters, and thus are more inclined to form our own views under the influence of our values and attitudes. Three of the most prominent characters within the play are Yolland, Own and Jimmy Jack, who reveal the central ideas, themes and issues of the play through their perspective. It is essentially the audiences’ values and attitudes that influence the perception of each of these characters as either a hero or a fool.
The status of Owen as a character is in much conflict throughout the duration of the play. There are a number of valid reasons as to why Owen can be seen as a stereotypical fool. The word fool is defined as a weak minded or idiotic person, and is also associated with the words to trick, deceive, or impose upon, (as in to fool). 'The Fool' int he more traditional sense, was essentially a social construct meant to intertwine the masses to the polished and refined life of the nobility. Shakespeare's' fool would often speak words of advice to the downtrodden. In a sense, Owen is all of these. Owen acts as a go-between for the two opposing cultures, due to his grasp of language. He is forced to take on a sort of double identity in order to appear complacent to both sides. To translate is to change words from on language to another, often losing meaning in the process. Owen, in his role as translator, changes meaning deliberately, revealing the apathetic attitude he has to the (linguistic) dispossession of the Irish. Thus, Owen is the link and the deceiver, but towards the end of the play, when he begins to reclaim his identity, he becomes the 'wise man', akin to Shakespeare's characters. Fools enact the raw material of a culture, ceremoniously demonstrating and articulating what becomes of a society if it forsakes the 'burden' of tradition.
Personal values and attitudes come into play when constructing a view of Yolland. He is both a hero and a fool, through his actions and his words. There are two kinds of fool; the natural fool, a physically challenged or retarded person, and the artificial fool, a witty entertainer and social critic. Yolland is representative of both, in that he is challenged and inhibited by the Gaelic language, and that his position serves as a critique of the barriers we have created in society. Yolland is English, an assisting officer to Lancey, both in Ireland to assist in its remapping by the Ordnance survey. He has no knowledge of how to speak Gaelic, although his friendly nature towards the Irish assists in his romance with Marie (who cannot speak English). Yolland becomes an example of how language can transcend any boundaries or barrier, but also how it creates differences and conflict. It is his romance with Marie and simply his status as an Englishman that cause problems for both sides. Although there have been possible inciting incidents towards conflict between the two sides, Yolland is essentially the catalyst. Yolland can be seen as a foll because he understands the implications in his relationship to an Irish woman, and the difficulties in communication between the two cultures, but, in essence, he is also a hero because he opposes the indifferent, almost superior attitude of the other English officer Lancey. The view of Yolland as a hero or a fool is dependent upon the audience's personal values and attitudes, although one could say that he is equally both.
An audience coming from a Western, particularly European culture could easily identify with the characters and themes within Translations. Most European countries, and any country colonized by the British Empire, is likely to share a certain empathy with the Irish. Jimmy Jack Casey is perhaps the best example of 'The Fool' within Translations. He is the physically challenged fool, who constantly questions our perceptions of wisdom and truth and their relationship to everyday experience through his references to the legends and culture of Ancient Greece. Folly, the philosophy of the fool, is a ritualized outlet for repressed sentiments. Jimmy Jack is the perfect tool for examining societal constructs and perceptions of wisdom, as he is the relatively harmless old man who is not directly involved in the cultural conflict in the narrative. Alternatively, the conflicts presented by and difficulties in the acts of translation and communication would be acknowledged and respected by anyone who is from a culturally and linguistically diverse background (particularly those who have had to learn English as a second language). The experience in the audience of the above two situations has particular influence in shaping their experience of a text, and especially their views on its characters.
translations touches upon a number of sensitive thees and issues, which rely both on the character construction as well as the attitudes and values of the audience to provide an interpretation. Owen is representative of the literal, cultural and linguistic dispossession of the Irish, and his compliance and lack of rebellion until the end make him out to be a fool, in all senses of the word. The perception of Yolland as a character is essentially dependent upon the values and attitudes of the audience. One could say that while Owen can be seen as a fool, Yolland is equally a hero and fool through his beliefs that the Irish are equally a people, his rebellion to his superiors, and his seemingly good natured ideas. The perception of the true protagonists and antagonists within the play Translations can be seen as relying largely on the values and attitudes of the audience, particularly those coming from other cultures and times. The perception of a play and the influence had by certain characters varies depending upon the audience's personal background, attitudes and values, age and experience, or identification with the themes and issues as presented in the play.