Brian Friel: Translations Act 1

In class we were discussing the five things that you should consider when analyzing a text. First, being context, to look at who is writing the piece, when was it published, what is the work's discipline, etc. According to Wikipedia, Brian Friel is the greatest living dramatist and the "universally accented voice of Ireland."He was born January 9, 1929 in Northern Ireland. Brian Friel got his B.A. from St. Pat's College, Mynooth and worked as a teacher until 1960. Translations was one of his later works, written in 1980. The play is set in 1833 and we are introduced to many characters in Act 1. Manus is the oldest son of Hugh, in his late twenties early thirties. He does everything with zeal and intensity, and he is lame and wears shabby clothes. Sarah is described as a mute anywhere from the age of 17 to 35 and has a dainty, waiflike appearance. Jimmy Jack Cassie is the 'Infant Prodigy', a bachelor in his 60’s who never washes, and wears the same coat, gloves and hat all year round. Maire is a strong-minded, strong-bodied woman in her 20’s and she has an interesting relationship with Manus. Doalty in his 20’s, open-minded, open-hearted, generous, slightly thick and is usually drunk. Bridget is in her 20’s, plump, fresh young girl, ready to laugh, vain, with a countrywoman’s instinctive cunning. Hugh is a large man with residual dignity, shabbily dressed, carrying a stick, in his early 60’s, and he is the head of the hedge-school which all of these civilians attend. Owen is his younger son who has been gone for six years and has just returned, He is handsome, attractive, in his 20’s, dressed smartly, easy, charming, considerate and enthusiastic. He owns nine shops in Dublin, owns 12 horses and 6 servants, employed as a part time underpaid civilian interpreter. Lancey, middle aged captain, a small crisp officer expert in his field as a cartographer, uneasy with people, especially foreign civilian. Lieutenant Yolland, late 20’s early 30’s, tall, thin and gangly, blond hair and shy, awkward mannered, a soldier by accident. The first Act ends with the Captain and Lietenant talked to the civilians in the hedge-school.