Is it Just a Name

I found it interesting in Brian Friel's Translations that the main emphasis was on the names of people and places. The first encounter that we have with names is the interaction between Manus and Sarah. Manus opens the piece trying to get Sarah to speak. The important part of that scene is that he is teaching her to say her name, "Get your tongue and lips working. 'My name-' Come on. One more try. 'My name is-' Good girl" (2). This has a lot of significance to it because the first act is about English soldiers coming to change all of the names of the cities in Ireland. It shows the significance of a name and the meaning behind the names that we are given and that we give to others and places. At the end of the scene there is a contrast to the way Manus honors names and his brother does not see them as importance.

Owen is Manus' younger brother who has made himself a life in the city and also works for the English soldiers as a translator. As the play goes through the scene when Owen is translating he omits most of what the English soldiers are saying. At the end of this scene Manus' addresses this issue with his brother who brushes off what has come to pass, "What's 'incorrect' about the place names we have here?" (36) This part shows Manus' hurt and disgust at the English soldiers plan to change their history and culture. His brother however just keeps pushing with the progress even when he admits the English do not pronounce his name correctly, "It's only a name. It's the same me, isn't it?" (37) I found it an interesting contrast that two brothers would have such contrasting ideas on what it means to have a name.

In the coming acts it seems that these two will be the main contrasting opinions and ideas. With one brother dedicating his time to teach someone to say their name and the importance of knowing your name and the other brother dedicating the same amount of time to erasing his history and the history of his home.