Role of Sea/Role of Fate/Use of Nature in ‘Riders to the Sea
John
Millington Synge, the writer of ‘Riders to the Sea’, uses Nature as background,
character and symbol in plays. The play ‘Riders to the Sea’ is one of them
where Nature fills the minds of the characters and mounds their actions, even
their moods and Fate.
In ‘Riders
to the Sea’, the Sea plays an important role. We feel the presence of sea
throughout the play, although it always remains in the offstage. However, it
dominates the action of the play as a character. It influences all the
characters lives as an antagonist. It remains in the thoughts of characters and
their conversation. It provides an essential background to the play and
contributes to the atmosphere of terror and mystery.
The Sea of
the play represents Fate which is a great fact in the life of the people of the
Aran Islands. Sea is the only source of their living. Moreover, the Sea gives
them passage to the markets in the mainland where they go to sell and buy their
daily goods. As there is no alternative option, they have to go across the Sea
to the mainland to sell their goods and to make their purchases.
The Sea is
introduced in the scene at the very opening in Nora and Cathleen’s conversation
about Michael’s drowning in the Sea. Although, the Sea is never visible, its
presence is declared by the gusty wind that bursts open the half closed door as
if it was angry monster about to devour them all.
When Maurya
as well as Bartley enters the scene, the Sea becomes the opposing force, the
antagonist. Maurya tries in vain to prevent Bartley from going down to the Sea
as she fears that it will not spare her last surviving son. She is well aware
of the nature of the cruel villain, the Sea. Thus, the brooding Sea takes the
upper hand in the action of the play as a living character.
The Sea is
also invested with supernatural suggestions. It is the archetypal symbol of
Fate. The riders are men who are engulfed by the dark, mysterious and
inscrutable Fate. The Sea and humanity are mysteriously interlocked. It has
taken a heavy toll of the eight lives of the poor peasants family of Maurya.
When her
last son is drowned, she is relieved at the thought that, the Sea can do no
more harm to her. This is the heart rending sorrow of the bereaved mother.
Above all,
the Sea contributes to creating a supernatural atmosphere, essential for tragic
doom by supplying necessary background to the play. There is the suggestion of
the sombre aspect of Nature – dark moorlands, bare craggy hills, the howling
hags, surf on the white rocks tec. Thus, the Sea not only becomes a background
but also a living character hungering after men throughout the play. The
ruthless and cruel hand of Maurya’s Fate forcibly led Bartley to his death to
complete her tragedy.
Thus, it is the inevitability of Fate which is
the shape of Nature dominates the action of the play.
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Written By
S. MALLICK
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BIBLIOGRAPHY – Text Book (FBC), A Study Guide
(FBC) & Handnote Series (Lecture)
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