Irish Literature And Rebellion Essay -- essays research papers

Irish Literature and RebellionIn the heart of every Irishman hides a poet, burning with nationalistic passion for his dear(p) Emerald Isle. It is this same passion, which for centuries, Great Britain has attempted to snuff out of the Catholics of Ireland with tyrannical policies and the hegemony of the Protestant religion. Catholics were treated like second-class citizens in their native home. Centuries of oppression churned in the hearts of the Irish and came to a boil in the writings and lit of the sons and daughters of Ireland. The Literary Renaissance of Ireland produced some of the greatest writers the military man has seen. outhouse OLeary said it best, literature must(prenominal) be national and nationalism must be literary (Harmon, 65). Although there is an endless stream of pro institute poets and playwrights John Synge, Lady Gregory, Oscar Wilde, etc., this papers primary focus is on William pantryman Yeats and James Joyce, and their contributions during the Irish Li terary Renaissance and their perspectives on the Irish Question. They continue the names of the heroes of the past and celebrated the Irish spirit through their writings so that the sacrifice of many would not be in vain.William pantryman Yeats was born in the Dublin suburb of Sandymont on June 13, 1865. Interestingly enough, his family was of the Protestant faith. He wasnt much of an activist at first and didnt really cargon all that much for schooling either, because I found it difficult to attend to anything less interesting than my thoughts, I was difficult to educate (DLB 19, 403). However, in 1886 he met John OLeary, an old Fenian leader. OLeary had been a Young Irelander and fought in the insurrection of 1849. He took Yeats under his wing and introduced him to the world of fenians and fenianism. His influence on Yeats writing is undeniable. Yeats began to write in the way of Sir Samuel Ferguson and James Clarence Mangan and recrudesce his nationalism and anti-English senti ment (OConnor, 165). Yeats, like Ferguson, saw literature in Irish was an essential part of the education of any Irishman and tried to make it so (OConnor, 150). He toured Ireland and established the National Literary Society. His greatest ambition was to meld Catholic Ireland and Protestant Ireland through national literature. He loved Ireland and the Irish... ...rs this to be the real voice of the Irish middle class (OConnor, 161). Throughout common ivy Day in the Committee Room, we are introduced to a cast of characters who substantiate been out shaking hands and kissing babies. They sit around and slow warm themselves back to life by the small fire and sipping on stout. The discuss politics and life, each other, and the anniversary of the tragic loss Charles Stewart Parnell. The recital ends with the reading of a poem written in memory of Parnell, which declares him the uncapped King, and concludes The day that brings us Freedoms reign. / And on that day whitethorn Erin w ell / Pledge in the cup she lifts to Joy / One sorrowfulness the memory of Parnell (Joyce, 116).Through the words and verses of Yeats and Joyce and all the writers of the Irish Literary Renaissance, the memories of the persist have survived. The purpose of the their writing was to kindle the patriotic flame of the Irish and work towards a united Ireland. In the troubles of today, the memory of the sacrifices of yesterday are still strong within the culture and traditions of the Irish. Someday, their dream and the dream of so many who have gone before them will be recognised and achieved.