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Plot Summary | Genre | General Vision or Viewpoint | Cultural Context | Themes
Plot Summary
The story is set in a small village called Ballybeg in Donegal Ireland in the year 1936. The Mundy family are at the centre of this story. Kate is the oldest and the only one who is working outside the home. She is a schoolteacher and feels the responsibility of looking after her four sisters. Their brother Jack has just returned from the missions in Uganda after 25years. He is sick with malaria but it seems that he has lost his religion and has engaged in pagan rites in Africa. This brings a sense of shame to the family as they are living within a small Irish community in the early 20th century. Furthermore Chris one of the sisters has a young son called Michael. Michael’s father is called Gerry Evans. He is irresponsible as a father and it seems has abandoned Chris on many occasions. Chris is still in love with him but knows that he will not assume the responsibilities associated with marriage.
As events unfold in the novel Kate loses her job because of the situation of Jack. Rose another sister and Agnes both spends their time knitting in order to make some money. With the advent of a new knitting factory to the village their work becomes redundant and they are left without any money. They both leave and disappear. Michael who is the narrator of the play announces how they were not found until 25 years later. At this stage Agnes is dead and Rose is dying in a hospice for the destitute in Southwark. Jack dies of a heart attack within a year of his homecoming. Gerry disappears to Spain. Michael receives a letter from a young man of his own age also called Michael Evans who was the son of Gerry. Gerry had married and had lived with his wife and three children in Wales but had died of illness. The play concludes with Chris working in the knitting factory while Kate gets a job tutoring a young family.
Genre
A play in two acts. The action takes place over a period of three weeks.
Michael who is Chris’s son is the narrator.
General Vision or Viewpoint
The general vision or viewpoint is quite negative. The story speaks about the unity of a family and the various difficulties within this community to maintain this unity and harmony. Michael the narrator gives us a grim picture of the future of the two sisters Rose and Agnes. The overall vision also shows us how the harmony underlying family life becomes threatened and undermined because of one’s reputation within a community. Community and its power over people is portrayed throughout the story. The girls are ashamed of Jack who clearly has abandoned the practice of orthodox religion. Kate’s reputation as a teacher is endangered because of her brother Jack and she is dismissed from the local school.
The need for liberation and self-expression become evident in the many different instances given to us of the characters who each seek self-expression through dance and music.
Cultural Context
The play is set in a small rural community in the north of Ireland in the early 20h century. The power of the Catholic religion is evident in this small community. There are also certain pagan practices mentioned such as the Festival of Lughnasa where a young boy was burned in a type of ritual. It is clear that Jack has been practicing ritual sacrifices in Africa.
Another aspect of this cultural world is that of poverty. Kate the only breadwinner loses her job and the girls are forced to look for work. Changes in the economy become evident towards the conclusion of the text. The growth of a new factory means that home produced goods are no longer in demand.
Certain customs such as dancing and barn dancing in lughnasa are practiced in this community.
Illegitimacy is frowned upon in this village
Themes
Poverty
The theme of poverty seems to be central in this play. Kate is the only one who is earning money to keep the family together. When the new factory opens in the village Rose and Agnes are compelled to give up their knitting, as they are no longer useful. They are advised by many people in the village to seek work in the new factory. When they refuse they leave the village and end up destitute and alone in England. Both characters die of poverty and starvation in London.
Religion
The background of a small Catholic community forms the main feature of this play. Jack the brother of the Mundy girls is compelled to return from the missions supposedly because he is sick with malaria. The full truth emerges however as the story unfolds. Jack has abandoned formal religion for pagan practices and is seemingly in disgrace in the eyes of the parish priest. He is not allowed to say mass and Kate loses her job in the local school because of him. His abandonment of religion has brought disgrace on the Mundy girls.
Family life
The Mundy girls stick close together throughout the play. Kate is the mother figure and is deeply concerned with holding the family together. Rose is ‘simple’ and her sister Agnes takes on the role of special protector. When things begin to change and the sisters are no longer able to support themselves Agnes and Rose are forced to leave and look for employment. They end up tragically as both sisters eventually die of hunger and neglect in London.
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