The significance of the relationship between language and identity in ‘Translations’ and ‘The Han...
The significance of the relationship between language and identity in ‘Translations’ and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’.
by James Loughrey
1. Introduction/Argument
1.1. The relationship between language and identity is constantly presented as a driving factor in both texts, demonstrating how both writers weigh the link heavily in terms of importance.
2. Para 1 - Naming
2.1. Significance and power of renaming - the meanings of names.
2.1.1. Gilead - old names, personal identity means nothing but class names do, social identity determines how much power, value one has.
2.1.2. Baile Beag - 'Owen/Roland' personal identity does not matter much but the changing of place names means everything to the irish people.
2.2. "We name a thing and - bang! it leaps into existence"
2.2.1. Friel presents language as volatile, spontaneous , contrasts Atwood - Gilead's very restrictive language.
2.2.2. Ronald Rollins article: ‘Translations: The Ritual of Renaming’
2.3. Gilead's biblical class names
2.3.1. Used as a tool by Gilead to help maintain the theocratic dictatorship.
3. Para 2 - Context
3.1. Friel's Interview: Friel speaks about how he would love to see the play in other places
3.1.1. It is about more than a country that the whole world knows is constantly at war with itself.
3.2. The 1980s - significant time for each writer.
3.2.1. Friel - Irish, troubles
3.2.2. Atwood - second wave feminism