Their Own Notion Of Freedom example essay topic

The priest says of Skinner, Michael and Lily: "They died for their beliefs. They died for their fellow citizens". Do you agree with the priest's remarks? So has he merely misinterpreted the situation, or is he using them to his advantage, and 'twisting' the truth, maybe even lying? The priest, not unlike the judge, uses the situation to advantage his own cause. When it comes down to it, the situation is plan and simple.

These were not three characters sacrificing their live. They were merely in the wrong place that he wrong time, which is why this is a tragedy. Their deaths were a mistake. They didn't have to die.

Still, they will live on as heroes, honoured for their 'selfless' deeds. The priest never even met those who he speaks so highly of, not knowing whether or not they did have the morals he speaks of, or even if they were good people. This situation, in the priest's eyes, demonstrates the barbaric nature of his opponents, and the desperate nature of his 'followers', willing to do what needs to be done to change what must be changed. What we will never know is whether or not the priest truly believed in what he was saying, or whether he merely saw an opportunity. In the words the priest, he speaks of how "the meek shall inherit the earth", claiming that they are martyrs. Perhaps, hopefully, the fact that this situation furthered his claims against the British Establishment, was purely coincidence.

Our instincts are to hold the judge in high esteem. A judge after all is supposed to search for the truth, and to honour justice. However, we receive warning signs as to his true intent, when he speaks of the three protagonists as 'callous terrorists'. He also seems to go to great lengths to establish that they could have been armed.

If Friel had not shown the two scenes simultaneously, and we saw the courtroom beforehand, his credibility would make us believe the events as he tells them. However, his placement of blame squarely on the deceased is a staggering misuse of the power of justice. We have no alternative but to see it as politically motivated, as he is one of the powerful, and protects those of his class and political persuasion. Each of the characters has their own reasons for marching, and their own notion of freedom. Lily marches because of the situation she has been thrust into. Lily is no great intellect.

She is an uneducated woman, barely articulate, who has difficulty even understanding why she marches. Her loveable humanity comes through in every scene as Friel displays her to be such a real character. We come to see her as a hero, as we hear about the condemned warehouse, the invalid husband, the vast litter of children, the endless work, and the hopeless future embodied in Declan. If not for this, we see her as a hero because she continues to strive with a smile on her face, committed to her family, and willing to help other people.

Michael, in the end, was not agitated because he was dying, but agitated because 'this terrible mistake should be recognized and acknowledged'. He died in disbelief and astonishment, because, as he said, this was truly a 'foolish way for a man to die'. He would rather have died for a reason, a purpose. However, he did not. A mistake was made.

All he ever wanted was an opportunity to prove himself and find a place in society that didn't involve the added 'un' to the word 'employment'. He is a contrast to Skinner. One of them represents the past and its idealistic view of dignified protest, whilst the other looks to the future and can only see more violence in the struggle for freedom. Skinner recognises that demonstrations are worthless unless the people who march in them know why they are marching and what they hope to achieve. The play's major concern, as the title suggests, is with the notion of freedom.

These three ordinary people were marching for freedom for one reason or another, but they had each suffered injustices in their lives. Their deaths were not the result of three freedom fighters dying for their beliefs. Their deaths were the result of three average people never having a choice.