“A Nation Cannot Exist Without a National Institute”
Ireland had a plethora of existing literature before its nationalist movement, however, the majority of their literature was centered on British prejudiced. A unified movement to create a uniquely Irish dramatic form had not yet been attempted. William Butler Yeats saw this as his opportunity to develop his paragon of Irish theatre that could unify Ireland through literature. Yeats alleged that in order to create a mature society, Ireland would have to differentiate itself and take a stand in the realm of literary drama.
After helping to create the Irish Literary Society and the Irish National Theatre Society, Yeats managed to obtain the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. With the backing of an “English heiress” the Irish National Theatre opened for business in 1904. Alas, this gifted theatre came with the stipulation that it was to be run according to W.B. Yeats’ vision for a national institution and ergo should operate above political pressure. That same year the Irish National Theatre Society reorganized with three principal directors. W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory and John Millington Synge, all of whom were dramatists who attempted to rid Ireland of …show more content…
When the theatre staged a production of John Millington Synge’s play, The Playboy of the Western World, the audience was so put off by its immoral content and that a weeklong riot occurred. William Butler Yeats would have to stand up and defend the Irish National Theatre Society’s right to present a play with such content. His courage the Monday following the Playboy Riots secured for the Abbey the right of the title “Irish National Theatre.” Today The Playboy of the Western World has become canonized and is viewed as Synge’s greatest play but also “one which stirred up more resentment than any modern play of
Ireland had a plethora of existing literature before its nationalist movement, however, the majority of their literature was centered on British prejudiced. A unified movement to create a uniquely Irish dramatic form had not yet been attempted. William Butler Yeats saw this as his opportunity to develop his paragon of Irish theatre that could unify Ireland through literature. Yeats alleged that in order to create a mature society, Ireland would have to differentiate itself and take a stand in the realm of literary drama.
After helping to create the Irish Literary Society and the Irish National Theatre Society, Yeats managed to obtain the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. With the backing of an “English heiress” the Irish National Theatre opened for business in 1904. Alas, this gifted theatre came with the stipulation that it was to be run according to W.B. Yeats’ vision for a national institution and ergo should operate above political pressure. That same year the Irish National Theatre Society reorganized with three principal directors. W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory and John Millington Synge, all of whom were dramatists who attempted to rid Ireland of …show more content…
When the theatre staged a production of John Millington Synge’s play, The Playboy of the Western World, the audience was so put off by its immoral content and that a weeklong riot occurred. William Butler Yeats would have to stand up and defend the Irish National Theatre Society’s right to present a play with such content. His courage the Monday following the Playboy Riots secured for the Abbey the right of the title “Irish National Theatre.” Today The Playboy of the Western World has become canonized and is viewed as Synge’s greatest play but also “one which stirred up more resentment than any modern play of