Title of Riders to the Sea
Synge’s
choice of title is the superb brainwork of his genius. The title “Riders to the sea” is the most
significant and symbolic to the thematic journey. The main theme of the play is
the conflict between man and the sea. The title is very attractive and thought
provoking. The readers are curious to know who the riders are. They will go
deep into the sea with the riders. Then the mystery will be revealed and the
readers will shed tears. The two riders Barthey and Michael represent the whole
riders of the peasant families of Aran Islanders. The real beauty will come out
with the fragrance of title.
In
the play there are two riders — Bartley and Michael. Michael rides on the grey
pony and Bartley riders on the red mare. They ride on their horses to the sea.
The Sea is the source of their living and dying. The Sea is the giver and taker
of their lives. Through the riding of Michael and Bartley we see the Aran
islanders. Happiness and enjoyment bid them farewell. Sorrows and sufferings
are the part and parcel of their riding. They have to fight constantly against
the stony soil from which they will produce food grains after the hard toil and
sweat of their body. And hungry sea is ready to devour the riders. Firstly she
tempts with the bait of their source of living and lastly she snatches away
every fisher folk of the islanders.
The
title helps us to go deep into the text and the sea. The story is about the
tragic fate of Maurya an old woman of the island. She has her father-in-law,
her husband and six sturdy sons. They are all riders to the sea. But all of
them except Bartley were devoured before the curtain rises. The play is about
the last rider, Bartley. Maurya’s fifth son Michael was drowned in the sea nine
days before the play begins. Bartley wants to go to the sea. Maurya dissuades
but Bartley says Cathleen. It’s life of a Youngman to be going to the sea.” The
sea devours him also.
The
title has a biblical significance. If we have a look at the Book of Exodus in
the old testament we will realize the symbolical meaning. When the horses of
Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought
back the waters of the sea upon them : but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the
midst of the sea. Then Miriam, the phophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a
tumbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and
dancing. Miriam sangs—
“Sing
to the Lord, for he has
Triumphed
gloriously;
The
horse and his rider he had
Thrown
into the sea.”
Pharao’s
riders are destined to death as Maurya’s ‘riders’ are fated to meet their death
in the sea.
The
title has also supernatural element. One of the riders is the ghost of Michael
who pursues his living brother and takes him away from this world. To quote T.
R. Henn—
“It
(the sea) is the killer of the young, the bread winners, whose life is to be
upon it. The fishermen are all its riders, mysteriously linked to the human and
super-human riders, here and in tradition.”
The
title also emphasizes the mythic and supernatural element. It indicates the
manner in which the final tragedy overtakes Maurya. The sea has devoured all
the males of Maurya family. All are the riders to the sea. The lives of the
Aran islanders are determined by the sea. Their fates are deetined by the
hungry sea, whereas Pharash’s horsemen were punished by for their misdeeds.
Synge with his tragic scheme pushes the riders into the sea. So all the riders
have taken shelter under the sea after their death. Hence the title is very
suggestive and symbolic.
Dear Dr. Jana, as a regular follower of your brilliantly presented blog I would like to notify a small flaw in the above post. In the above post as you have written
ReplyDelete"In the play there are two riders — Bartley and Michael. Michael rides on the grey pony and Bartley riders on the red mare. They ride on their horses to the sea."
But dear ma'am according to the text of riders to the sea seeing Michael on the gray pony is just an illusion of Maurya. Synge had give this reference, for second sights or seeing a person's soul is common among celtic races.
So I wish for the benefit of all the followers of your blog you will rectify the above post.
Yes, actually Maurya had an illusion as per the text.
DeleteYes, right indeed
Delete