Deirdre of the Sorrows
Encyclopedia
Deirdre of the Sorrows is a three-act play written by Irish
playwright John Millington Synge
, first performed at the Abbey Theatre
by the Irish National Theatre Society in 1910. The play is based on Irish Mythology
, in particular the myths concerning Deirdre
and Conchobar
. The work was unfinished at the author's death in 1909, but was completed by William Butler Yeats
and Synge's fiancee, Molly Allgood.
, ignoring her pleas to remain in the countryside for another year. After he leaves, Naisi and his brothers come to the cottage seeking Deirdre, and she tells them of her summons. Deirdre is aware of a prophecy that she will be the doom of the sons of Usna, but nonetheless she asks Naisi to take her away from Ulster. He agrees, and Ainnle weds them in an impromptu ceremony.
Act II: Alban. Deirdre and the sons of Usna have lived happily on a remote island for seven years. Fergus arrives bearing an offer of peace from Conchubor, and asks Deirdre and Naisi to return with him to Emain Macha. Lavarcham warns Deirdre not to accept, and Owen, a spy in the service of Conchubor, intimidates Deirdre with suggestions that death awaits Naisi in Ulster. Naisi tells Fergus that he plans to live out the rest of his life with Deirdre in Alban, but Deirdre convinces him to accept Conchubor's offer, reasoning that it is better to die young, at the peak of their love, than to grow old and live in the shadow of their past happiness.
Act III: A tent near Emain. Lavarcham arrives at Conchubor's tent and tries to convince him to give up his pursuit of Deirdre, claiming that she has grown old and lost her beauty. His soldiers arrive and contradict her claims, and he leaves just before Deirdre and Naisi enter. They discuss the possibility of their impending deaths until Conchubor returns. Deirdre nearly convinces him to put aside past grievances and let them live in peace when the sound of a battle between Conchubor's men and Naisi's brothers reaches them. Conchubor and Naisi go out to join the fray and Naisi is struck down. Fergus and his men arrive, enraged by the king's treachery, and set Emain Macha ablaze. Lavarcham tries to convince Deirdre to flee Ulster, and Conchubor tries to take her to another of his castles, but she stays and mourns her dead lover and his brothers. In the end, Deirdre takes Naisi's dagger, stabs herself, and falls into his open grave, leaving Conchubor with nothing.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
playwright John Millington Synge
John Millington Synge
Edmund John Millington Synge was an Irish playwright, poet, prose writer, and collector of folklore. He was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival and was one of the cofounders of the Abbey Theatre...
, first performed at the Abbey Theatre
Abbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
by the Irish National Theatre Society in 1910. The play is based on Irish Mythology
Irish mythology
The mythology of pre-Christian Ireland did not entirely survive the conversion to Christianity, but much of it was preserved, shorn of its religious meanings, in medieval Irish literature, which represents the most extensive and best preserved of all the branch and the Historical Cycle. There are...
, in particular the myths concerning Deirdre
Deirdre
Deirdre or Derdriu is the foremost tragic heroine in Irish mythology and probably its best-known figure in modern times. She is often called "Deirdre of the Sorrows." Her story is part of the Ulster Cycle, the best-known stories of pre-Christian Ireland.-Legendary Biography:Deirdre was the...
and Conchobar
Conchobar mac Nessa
Conchobar mac Nessa was the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He ruled from Emain Macha .-Birth:...
. The work was unfinished at the author's death in 1909, but was completed by William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, in his later years he served as an Irish Senator for two terms...
and Synge's fiancee, Molly Allgood.
Important Characters
- Deirdre, the beautiful, ill-fated heroine
- Conchubor, High King of Ulster
- Naisi, Son of Usna, Deirdre's lover
- Lavarcham, Deirdre's nurse
- Fergus, a friend of Conchubor
- Ainnle, brother of Naisi
- Ardan, brother of Naisi
- Owen, a spy for Conchubor
- Old Woman, servant to Lavarcham
Plot synopsis
Act I: Lavarcham's house on Slieve Fuadh. Conchubor has charged Lavarcham with raising Deirdre to be his queen, but she is a willful girl with no interest in marrying an old man. Conchubor comes to Slieve Fuadh to bring Deirdre to his palace, Emain MachaEmain Macha
]Navan Fort – known in Old Irish as Eṁaın Ṁacha and in Modern Irish as Eamhain Mhacha – is an ancient monument in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. According to Irish legend, it was one of the major power centers of pre-Christian Ireland...
, ignoring her pleas to remain in the countryside for another year. After he leaves, Naisi and his brothers come to the cottage seeking Deirdre, and she tells them of her summons. Deirdre is aware of a prophecy that she will be the doom of the sons of Usna, but nonetheless she asks Naisi to take her away from Ulster. He agrees, and Ainnle weds them in an impromptu ceremony.
Act II: Alban. Deirdre and the sons of Usna have lived happily on a remote island for seven years. Fergus arrives bearing an offer of peace from Conchubor, and asks Deirdre and Naisi to return with him to Emain Macha. Lavarcham warns Deirdre not to accept, and Owen, a spy in the service of Conchubor, intimidates Deirdre with suggestions that death awaits Naisi in Ulster. Naisi tells Fergus that he plans to live out the rest of his life with Deirdre in Alban, but Deirdre convinces him to accept Conchubor's offer, reasoning that it is better to die young, at the peak of their love, than to grow old and live in the shadow of their past happiness.
Act III: A tent near Emain. Lavarcham arrives at Conchubor's tent and tries to convince him to give up his pursuit of Deirdre, claiming that she has grown old and lost her beauty. His soldiers arrive and contradict her claims, and he leaves just before Deirdre and Naisi enter. They discuss the possibility of their impending deaths until Conchubor returns. Deirdre nearly convinces him to put aside past grievances and let them live in peace when the sound of a battle between Conchubor's men and Naisi's brothers reaches them. Conchubor and Naisi go out to join the fray and Naisi is struck down. Fergus and his men arrive, enraged by the king's treachery, and set Emain Macha ablaze. Lavarcham tries to convince Deirdre to flee Ulster, and Conchubor tries to take her to another of his castles, but she stays and mourns her dead lover and his brothers. In the end, Deirdre takes Naisi's dagger, stabs herself, and falls into his open grave, leaving Conchubor with nothing.