Father Jack
‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ is a play written by Brian Friel which was first published in 1990. The play is about five Irish sisters and their struggles in a 1930’s Ireland. With reference to the way Friel present Father Jack, how far do you agree that he deserves our sympathy?
Friel first presents Jack as an almost god-like figure and a war a hero. Our first impression of Jack is positive, we look up to and admire him, because he is presented in such a hero manner we don’t think we have anything to sympathise with him for. Friel uses descriptive adjectives to show his pristine uniform.
“immaculate uniform of dazzling white.”
However, by the end of the play Jack’s once immaculate uniform is falling apart. We can see this as symbolism for Jack reputation, because at first it was perfect but as we’ve progressed through the play we learn more …show more content…
Friel portrays Jack as a lost and confused old man religiously throughout the play.
“I don't recollect the lay-out of this home”
With the use of staccato in Jack’s broken speech it paints him as an outsider to the family. Jack has forgotten a lot of english and struggles to speak it constantly which makes us view him as an outsider which elicits an emotional response from we, the readers. Friel uses repetition as well as staccato to show this.
“a tiny pink - a tiny pink - what’s the word?”
By the use of personal pronouns, Friel presents Jack in a pagan-like manner and as an outsider. Jack recognises Uganda as his home and embraces their religion as his own which show us that he has disregarded the thing he pledged his life to; his religion.
“we kill a rooster or a young goat”
“if i were at home”
“The Irish outcast”
This perfectly sums up Jack. We are unsure if we should feel sympathy for Jack at this point because he is an outsider but he also made himself one. He chose to disregard his christian faith and embrace the pagan ways of
‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ is a play written by Brian Friel which was first published in 1990. The play is about five Irish sisters and their struggles in a 1930’s Ireland. With reference to the way Friel present Father Jack, how far do you agree that he deserves our sympathy?
Friel first presents Jack as an almost god-like figure and a war a hero. Our first impression of Jack is positive, we look up to and admire him, because he is presented in such a hero manner we don’t think we have anything to sympathise with him for. Friel uses descriptive adjectives to show his pristine uniform.
“immaculate uniform of dazzling white.”
However, by the end of the play Jack’s once immaculate uniform is falling apart. We can see this as symbolism for Jack reputation, because at first it was perfect but as we’ve progressed through the play we learn more …show more content…
Friel portrays Jack as a lost and confused old man religiously throughout the play.
“I don't recollect the lay-out of this home”
With the use of staccato in Jack’s broken speech it paints him as an outsider to the family. Jack has forgotten a lot of english and struggles to speak it constantly which makes us view him as an outsider which elicits an emotional response from we, the readers. Friel uses repetition as well as staccato to show this.
“a tiny pink - a tiny pink - what’s the word?”
By the use of personal pronouns, Friel presents Jack in a pagan-like manner and as an outsider. Jack recognises Uganda as his home and embraces their religion as his own which show us that he has disregarded the thing he pledged his life to; his religion.
“we kill a rooster or a young goat”
“if i were at home”
“The Irish outcast”
This perfectly sums up Jack. We are unsure if we should feel sympathy for Jack at this point because he is an outsider but he also made himself one. He chose to disregard his christian faith and embrace the pagan ways of