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.

Comments

  1. Unknown18 May 2014 at 22:59

    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
    "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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. nivi29 November 2015 at 08:34

      Yes, actually Maurya had an illusion as per the text.

      Delete
    2. Unknown14 May 2016 at 06:56

      Yes, right indeed

      Delete

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