Is Translations about Language or Politics? Essay -- English Literatur

Is Translations to the highest degree Language or politics?Friel famously said of Translations, it is to the highest degree run-in and yetlanguage. However, the political statement which Friel denies neednot be active, but passive, as seeking an understanding of thesituation must consider politics, only Friel actively avoidspolitical comment perhaps due to the volatile situation in the 1980swhen the play was first put on.D.H. Lawrence famously said, Never imprecate the teller, trust the taleand with that in mind, I wish to explore the reasons why audiences andreaders may perceive translations as a political play.The action of the play all over three acts shows the profoundly disturbinginfluence of the English domination over the Baile Beag community andits life. Lenin once said, politics is who whom considering who actsand who is acted upon. Exploring politics from this point of view, oneis easily fitted to perceive the numerous political aspects of the play.One such clearly political aspect of the play is the colonial forcearriving from England. A movement of armies from one rustic toanother, is a clearly political act, a gesture, to indicate apresence as was Doaltys movement of the Theodolyte.On the other hand, if the play is about language (as Friel says) thenperhaps it is about language on two levels. On the one hand itconsiders language on an international level (for example, the Irishand English languages) whilst on the other it considers language on aninterpersonal level, the way perhaps we interpret between privaciesor our choice of individual words in our speech.There are numerous ways in which one may consider the play to be aboutnational language. Many would consider language as ... ...haracters acting as a mouthpiece forFriels political points of view, and because of this, I believeFriels play must concern politics to around degree.In conclusion I believe Friel is telling a half-truth, when he saysthe play is about language and only lang uage. This is true insofaras the only issue the play is directly and aggressively considering isthe importance of language. However, I believe Friel knew all to wellthat anyone watching of reading the play would have to considerpolitics, at least on a social level, in order to fully understand theimportance of the social and national issues in the play. Therefore,Friels play is uncomplete a play solely about language (as he asserts)or solely about politics the two are inextricably linked release uswith a socio-political play which emphasizes the importance oflanguage as a political tool.