The Shifts in Power Within Brian Friel's Translations

Question: Discuss the various shifts of power within Friel's Translations and evaluate their significance. Enjoy :) The shifts in power and the conflict which this causes are crucial aspects of Brian Friel's Translations, and this conflict can be seen, and is caused by, the cultural, linguistic and ideological differences between characters, particular the English and Irish. Probably the primary reason for this conflict is the continued disempowerment of the Irish, which grows more evident as the …

…being a meaningless part of folklore, much like that of Tobair Vree. In Translations, and much of his literary work, it is clear that Friel was concerned with the various shifts of power we see right through the play, especially between the English and Irish characters. These linguistic and cultural differences, which create the power struggles, are the primary themes of this particular play, and are responsible for the various conflicts which we see throughout.