Contents
Part One
I.0. Introduction ...... 1 I.1. Research Project ...... 1 I.2. Waiting for a Connection ...... 16 I.3. Contemporary Irish Playwrights: Descendants of the Irish Literary Revival ...... 29 I.4. Brian Friel: Ireland’s Most Successful Contemporary Playwright ...... 39 I.5. Making History: A Chronology of Brian Friel’s Private and Public Stages in Life .... 45 I.6. State of Research ...... 49
Part Two
II.0 Identity Theories ...... 57 II.1. Werner Weidenfeld: Knowledge of Orientation and Identity Construction ...... 57 II.2. Benedict Anderson: The Nation as Imagined Community ...... 59 II.3. Adrian Hastings: Language, History, and National Identity ...... 62 II.4. Montserrat Guibernau: Globalisation and National Identity ...... 65
Part Three
III.0 Ireland’s Quest for Identity ...... 71 III.1. Ireland’s Postcolonial Identity ...... 71 III.2. The Role of the Irish Language ...... 78 III.3. Translations of the Past: Memory and Tradition in Ireland ...... 88 III.4. Migration and the Irish Diaspora ...... 95 III.5. Ireland’s Postnational Identity ...... 108
Part Four
IV. Facets of Irish Identities in Brian Friel’s Plays ...... 111 IV.1. Religion ...... 111 The Enemy Within (1962) & Molly Sweeney (1994) IV.2. Exile ...... 128 Philadelphia, Here I Come! (1964) & The Gentle Island (1971) IV.3. Homecoming ...... 147 The Loves of Cass McGuire (1966) & Living Quarters (1977) IV.4. Love ...... 164 Lovers: Winners and Losers (1967) & Hedda Gabler (2008) IV.5. Politics ...... 179 The Mundy Scheme (1969) & The Freedom of the City (1973) IV.6. History ...... 194 Volunteers (1975) & Making History (1988) IV.7. Family ...... 212 Aristocrats (1979) & Fathers and Sons (1987) IV.8. Mythology ...... 229 Faith Healer (1979) & Wonderful Tennessee (1993) IV.9. Language ...... 247 Translations (1980) & The Communication Cord (1982) IV.10. Music ...... 266 Dancing at Lughnasa (1990) & Performances (2003) IV.11. Detachment ...... 280 The London Vertigo (1992) & The Home Place (2005) IV.12. Hope ...... 290 The Yalta Game (2001) & Afterplay (2002)
Part Five
V.0. Conclusion: Staging Irish Identities in the Theatre of Brian Friel ...... 297
Part Six
VI.0. Bibliography ...... 311 VI.1. Primary Literature ...... 311 VI.2. Manuscripts ...... 312 VI.3. In Conversation ...... 312 VI.4. Secondary Literature ...... 312 VI.5. Radio and Television ...... 337 VI.6. Index of Photographs ...... 338