riders to the sea significance of title to the Riders to the sea

1. ““RIDERSRIDERS
TO THETO THE
SEA”SEA”

2. GROUP NO 4
 1) MUSHTAQ AHMED
 2) ABDUL MALIK
 3) BILAL RANA
 4) IMRAN KHATTAK
 5) SUHAIL AHMED

3. JOHN MILLINGTON SYNGEJOHN MILLINGTON SYNGE
• Edward John Millington SyngeEdward John Millington Synge
(1871- 1909)(1871- 1909)
• Irish dramatic, author and poetIrish dramatic, author and poet
• John Hatch Synge (1823- 1872) &John Hatch Synge (1823- 1872) &
Kathleen Traill (1838- 1908)Kathleen Traill (1838- 1908)
• Hodgkin’s disease- March 24, 1909Hodgkin’s disease- March 24, 1909
• Cherrie Marie Louise MathesonCherrie Marie Louise Matheson
(1870- 1940)(1870- 1940)

4. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
• Yeats advised him that he would never surpass mediocrity if heYeats advised him that he would never surpass mediocrity if he
remained in Paris, so, intent on finding his writer's voice, heremained in Paris, so, intent on finding his writer's voice, he
travelled back and forth from the continent to the rocky Arantravelled back and forth from the continent to the rocky Aran
Islands for a number of years to live with peasant seamen andIslands for a number of years to live with peasant seamen and
their families.their families.
• It must have been on Synge's second visit to the Aran Islands thatIt must have been on Synge's second visit to the Aran Islands that
he had the experience out of which was wrought what manyhe had the experience out of which was wrought what many
believe to be his greatest play. The scene of "Riders to the Sea" isbelieve to be his greatest play. The scene of "Riders to the Sea" is
laid in a cottage on Inishmaan, the middle and most interestinglaid in a cottage on Inishmaan, the middle and most interesting
island of the Aran group. While Synge was on Inishmaan, the storyisland of the Aran group. While Synge was on Inishmaan, the story
came to him of a man whose body had been washed up on thecame to him of a man whose body had been washed up on the
far away coast of Donegal, and who, by reason of certainfar away coast of Donegal, and who, by reason of certain
peculiarities of dress, was suspected to be from the island. In duepeculiarities of dress, was suspected to be from the island. In due
course, he was recognized as a native of Inishmaan, in exactly thecourse, he was recognized as a native of Inishmaan, in exactly the
manner described in the play, and perhaps one of the mostmanner described in the play, and perhaps one of the most
poignantly vivid passages in Synge's book on "The Aran Islands"poignantly vivid passages in Synge's book on "The Aran Islands"
relates the incident of his burial.relates the incident of his burial.
•

5. • The other element in the story which Synge introduces intoThe other element in the story which Synge introduces into
the play is equally true. Many tales of "second sight" are tothe play is equally true. Many tales of "second sight" are to
be heard among Celtic races. In fact, they are sobe heard among Celtic races. In fact, they are so
common as to arouse little or no wonder in the minds ofcommon as to arouse little or no wonder in the minds of
the people. It is just such a tale, which there seems nothe people. It is just such a tale, which there seems no
valid reason for doubting, that Synge heard, and thatvalid reason for doubting, that Synge heard, and that
gave the title, "Riders to the Sea", to his play.gave the title, "Riders to the Sea", to his play.
• There is a wonderful beauty of speech in the words ofThere is a wonderful beauty of speech in the words of
every character, wherein the latent power of suggestion isevery character, wherein the latent power of suggestion is
almost unlimited. In the quavering rhythm of the words,almost unlimited. In the quavering rhythm of the words,
there is poignantly present that quality of strangeness andthere is poignantly present that quality of strangeness and
remoteness in beauty which, as we are coming to realize,remoteness in beauty which, as we are coming to realize,
is the touchstone of Celtic literary art. However, the veryis the touchstone of Celtic literary art. However, the very
asceticism of the play has begotten a correspondingasceticism of the play has begotten a corresponding
power which lifts Synge's work far out of the current of thepower which lifts Synge's work far out of the current of the
Irish literary revival, and sets it high in a timelessIrish literary revival, and sets it high in a timeless
atmosphere of universal action.atmosphere of universal action.

6. Title Significance Of Play
 We as humans are sent into this world, and we have to face
many complex situations in our lives.
 Riders To The Sea we humans are the riders and there is a sea
which we can relate to this world, the sea is the metaphor of
danger.
 Different stages of life are there for us (humans) to pass like
birth, childhood adolescence and then early old age life.
 During the survival of stages infinite problems

7. are there to be faced by the riders (humans).
Comparison of World and sea.
World fantasies and humans restrictions to them.
Connection of humans between each other with resemblance
to Rider To The Sea.

8. THEME:THEME:
TRAGEDY comes w/ FAITHTRAGEDY comes w/ FAITH
• Tragedy- loss, pain, suffering, death, problems, test, dilemmasTragedy- loss, pain, suffering, death, problems, test, dilemmas
and the like.and the like.
• This play sum up the essence of the constant struggle of theThis play sum up the essence of the constant struggle of the
islander against their enemy, the sea. In human context, eachislander against their enemy, the sea. In human context, each
and everyone of us have different struggles and dilemmas toand everyone of us have different struggles and dilemmas to
face. However, these things will not be given to us by God if heface. However, these things will not be given to us by God if he
knows that we can’t surpass it.knows that we can’t surpass it.
• ““No man at all can be living forever, and we must be satisfied.”No man at all can be living forever, and we must be satisfied.”
-Life is neither mine nor yours. It was just borrowed from God.-Life is neither mine nor yours. It was just borrowed from God.
We are all destined to die but, however, be contented andWe are all destined to die but, however, be contented and
satisfied on what we have now in present, we can predict butsatisfied on what we have now in present, we can predict but
we can never tell what will happen next. Let’s put our faith towe can never tell what will happen next. Let’s put our faith to
God. He planned everything, more than that of what we need,God. He planned everything, more than that of what we need,
desire and expect. Tragedies are just test. A Test of faith anddesire and expect. Tragedies are just test. A Test of faith and
love.love.

9. BEHAVIOUR OF FAMILY
AFTER nine days of constant grieving for her missing son,AFTER nine days of constant grieving for her missing son,
Michael, who, she feels certain, has been drowned, old MauryaMichael, who, she feels certain, has been drowned, old Maurya
has fallen into a fitful sleep. Her daughter, Cathleen, is busy withhas fallen into a fitful sleep. Her daughter, Cathleen, is busy with
household tasks, when another daughter, Nora, slips quietly intohousehold tasks, when another daughter, Nora, slips quietly into
the kitchen with a bundle given her by the young priest. Itthe kitchen with a bundle given her by the young priest. It
contains part of the clothes taken from the body of a drownedcontains part of the clothes taken from the body of a drowned
man far in the north. They have been sent to Maurya's cottageman far in the north. They have been sent to Maurya's cottage
with a view to possible identification.with a view to possible identification.

10. As Maurya shows signs of waking, the girls hide theAs Maurya shows signs of waking, the girls hide the
bundle until sometime when they shall be alone. Maurya'sbundle until sometime when they shall be alone. Maurya's
grieving for Michael is now coupled with fear of losinggrieving for Michael is now coupled with fear of losing
Bartley, her only remaining son. Five sons and a husbandBartley, her only remaining son. Five sons and a husband
she has already lost to the sea. Will that insatiable tyrantshe has already lost to the sea. Will that insatiable tyrant
insist on taking her sixth. The priest says not. But nowinsist on taking her sixth. The priest says not. But now
Bartley insists that he will cross to the mainland this veryBartley insists that he will cross to the mainland this very
day, in spite of winds and high seas, to dispose of a horseday, in spite of winds and high seas, to dispose of a horse
at the fair.at the fair.
In a fit of pique at this only remaining son for not listeningIn a fit of pique at this only remaining son for not listening
to her pleas, Maurya let him go without her blessing. Theto her pleas, Maurya let him go without her blessing. The
girls persuade her to intercept him with the lunch they hadgirls persuade her to intercept him with the lunch they had
forgotten to give him and so to make opportunity for thatforgotten to give him and so to make opportunity for that
blessing a mother should have given.blessing a mother should have given.

11. While Maurya is gone theWhile Maurya is gone the
girls open the package.girls open the package.
The clothes are, indeed,The clothes are, indeed,
Michael's. Their onlyMichael's. Their only
comfort is the thought thatcomfort is the thought that
his body has been given ahis body has been given a
good Christian burial theregood Christian burial there
in the north where it wasin the north where it was
washed up. At this pointwashed up. At this point
Maurya returns terrifiedMaurya returns terrified
with a vision she had hadwith a vision she had had
of Michael riding on theof Michael riding on the
red horse behind Bartley.red horse behind Bartley.
Now she is sure Bartley isNow she is sure Bartley is
doomed. When the girlsdoomed. When the girls
show her Michael's clothesshow her Michael's clothes
her only response is thather only response is that
the good white boardsthe good white boards
she had bought for hisshe had bought for his
coffin would serve forcoffin would serve for
Bartley instead.Bartley instead.

12. • Even as she speaks, theEven as she speaks, the
neighboring women troop in,neighboring women troop in,
their voices raised in thetheir voices raised in the
"keen," that monotonous Irish"keen," that monotonous Irish
chant of grief. Men followchant of grief. Men follow
bringing the body of Bartleybringing the body of Bartley
who has been knocked off awho has been knocked off a
cliff into the surf by the horsecliff into the surf by the horse
he was leading. The playhe was leading. The play
closes on the note ofcloses on the note of
Maurya's fatalistic submission.Maurya's fatalistic submission.
She can sleep now with noShe can sleep now with no
worry but that of starvation.worry but that of starvation.
"They're all gone now and"They're all gone now and
there isn't anything more thethere isn't anything more the
sea can do to me. . . . Nosea can do to me. . . . No
man at all can be livingman at all can be living
forever and we must beforever and we must be
satisfied."satisfied."

14. THANK
YOU