Character Of Nora Burke Throughout The Play example essay topic

Write about Nora 'In the Shadow of the Glen'. How does the playwright present her character and situation, and how does he want the audience to respond to the ending of the play? J.M. Synge' writer of the 'In the Shadow of the Glen' clearly focus on the character of Nora Burke. The Playwright present the character of Nora and her situation in an adversity of ways which then the audience respond to at the end of the play. Each response different to one another makes the play even much interesting. However, 'In the Shadow of the Glen' was the first of its kind in 1903, being a realist drama clearly enhance the characters on it. The character of Nora Burke throughout the play varies in mood, whereas the atmosphere since the start of the scene is very uncomfortable and the audience seem to be ready for any change, '... a bed near it against the wall with a body lying on it covered with a sheet.

' The tone of the atmosphere set up by J.M. Synge gives the audience the feeling of instability. In comparison to the tone of the atmosphere, the characters also get involve with the stage diversity '... NORA BURKE is moving on about the room... /... looking now and then at the bed with an uneasy look. ' Nora's stage directions clearly enhances the tone of the atmosphere the characters are found in, the uneasy look upon Nora's eyes and the movement every now and then, represents something rare is about to happen or has indeed happened. In contrast to the tone of the atmosphere, the situation of Nora is addressed by the stage directions J.M. Synge set up. At the start of the play, Nora seems to be personally, a good woman.

This is because she actually finds herself talking to a stranger who knocks on her door at night and she actually invited him in. The attitude of Nora contrast on the situation she is found in and her self-scheme or character, '... come in out of the rain. ' As the play develops, Nora gives a different impression of her character. As she speaks to the 'Tramp', she opens up more and tells this stranger about her. However, she tells the Tramp how she had affairs with a man called Darcy. '...

And it's very lonesome I was after him a long while' Nora gives the impression of being more than an unfaithful woman towards Dan Burke but she pivots on her personal view of loneliness. On the other hand, Dan Burke seems to have an idea of Nora's unfaithfulness. I personally think that if he trusts her, then he shouldn't have played that game of making himself look dead, '... stranger, a man that's dead can do no hurt. ' In contrast to Nora's situation in the play, she clearly seems to be towards the audience at that particular stage an unfaithful woman.

However, the diversity of the audience believing she is an unfaithful woman is not strong enough. This is because she only did it for loneliness, as she said before, 'it's very lonesome'. At that particular time in 1903, a Catholic family in a country like Ireland would have been very strict with young daughters in particular, raised up to marry a rich man with loads of land and succeed, more like a forced marriage. Focusing on the actual religious implications that Ireland faced, such as 'Till death us-do part' or women seen as 'chattels' {Belongings} clearly supports Nora's situation and character.

Although the audience is questioning Nora about her faithfulness to Dan Burke despising the fact, she is married to an old man and she is lonely. It is then the audience may change their thoughts about Nora when she is persuaded by another character Michael Dara, a young man trying to get it on with her. '... but it's a fine life you " ll have now with a young man, a fine life surely... ' She is clearly put in this situation where she is being offered a fine life with a young man to live it to the fullest, despite the religious beliefs, the audience would have been at that particular time disturbed. Alternatively, Dan respond to this by actually starting a dispute between Nora, Michael and himself, Dan holding a stick gives the impression that a more like physical dispute is going to start but, what it actually matters at that particular stage is Dan's words.

This is because, it tells the audience that in fact, Nora is not a good wife, '... it's a long time I'm keeping that stick, for I've a bad wife in the house. ' Apart from Nora's situation at that particular time with Dan the audience could picture the whole situation that has gone for years between this Nora and Dan. J.M. Synge uses a variation of methods to enable the audience to respond to the characters in different ways, he clearly has the ability to flex the reactions of the audience. The audience at this stage clearly agrees with Dan Burke, Nora is simply an unfaithful young woman that has married him just for his money, supposedly. Moreover, she clearly prefers young individuals like Dorsey or Michael, both young and willing to have a relationship with her. On the other hand, the audience could also think that just because she has been forced into marriage and she is far too lonely that's acceptable, however. I personally doubt it.

The audience's response is far too flexible. In contrast to Nora's character and various situations, the audience at the end of the play clearly have complex views about her, amongst other characters. This explicit character undertakes how life in Ireland 1903 was under a catholic regiment. However, the audience of this play at that particular time would have been wealthy people, from catholic backgrounds, etc... all from which would have been clearly 'gutted' with the play. I havent got one.