The Steward of Christendom
Encyclopedia
The Steward of Christendom is a 1995 play
written by Irish
playwright Sebastian Barry
. Its story is about one Thomas Dunne, which was the name of Barry's great-grandfather, who is loyal to the British Crown during the Irish War of Independence
(1919–1921) and suffers accordingly.
. It is an effective method of demonstrating how far Dunne, a man who once commanded respect, has fallen. Several poignant incidents illustrate this, in particular one where Dunne requests that a cheap suit being provided for him should have gold thread. He is unconsciously demonstrating his desire for the gold braid of the highest police rank, which was denied him as a Catholic. Ironically, it is his status as a "Castle Catholic" that leads to his ostracism in an independent Ireland. Dunne's eventual descent into madness is most reminiscent of King Lear
.
With this play, Sebastian Barry focuses upon Ireland’s unwritten histories and upon people who have been edged out of the mainstream because certain histories of Ireland have been accepted and others have been rejected. As a loyalist, Dunne works for the Dublin Metropolitan Police which is why he is not accepted among his Catholic countrymen and countrywomen. However, he cannot be promoted commissioner either because he is a Catholic. Thus, Dunne does not belong to either social group and lives an isolated life which is one reason why he becomes delusional. Ironically, Dunne represents Ireland’s Catholic Loyalist Population as well as the entire postcolonial Irish nation who attempted to erase him from its collective memory.
"My father was the steward of Hume Wood, and I was the steward of Christendom."
"There was never enough gold in that uniform. If I had made commissioner I would have had gold, but that wasn’t a task for a Catholic"
“I loved her as long as she lived, I loved her as much as Cissy, my wife, and maybe more, or differently.“
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
written by Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
playwright Sebastian Barry
Sebastian Barry
Sebastian Barry is an Irish playwright, novelist, and poet. He has been shortlisted twice for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction and has won the 2008 Costa Book of the Year....
. Its story is about one Thomas Dunne, which was the name of Barry's great-grandfather, who is loyal to the British Crown during the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
(1919–1921) and suffers accordingly.
Plot summary
The play opens in a county home some years after Irish independence. Dunne appears to be raving incoherently, reliving an episode of his childhood. As the play continues, Dunne slips from moments of lucidity to reliving parts of his career as a senior officer in the Dublin Metropolitan PoliceDublin Metropolitan Police
The Dublin Metropolitan Police was the police force of Dublin, Ireland, from 1836 to 1925, when it amalgamated into the new Garda Síochána.-19th century:...
. It is an effective method of demonstrating how far Dunne, a man who once commanded respect, has fallen. Several poignant incidents illustrate this, in particular one where Dunne requests that a cheap suit being provided for him should have gold thread. He is unconsciously demonstrating his desire for the gold braid of the highest police rank, which was denied him as a Catholic. Ironically, it is his status as a "Castle Catholic" that leads to his ostracism in an independent Ireland. Dunne's eventual descent into madness is most reminiscent of King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
.
With this play, Sebastian Barry focuses upon Ireland’s unwritten histories and upon people who have been edged out of the mainstream because certain histories of Ireland have been accepted and others have been rejected. As a loyalist, Dunne works for the Dublin Metropolitan Police which is why he is not accepted among his Catholic countrymen and countrywomen. However, he cannot be promoted commissioner either because he is a Catholic. Thus, Dunne does not belong to either social group and lives an isolated life which is one reason why he becomes delusional. Ironically, Dunne represents Ireland’s Catholic Loyalist Population as well as the entire postcolonial Irish nation who attempted to erase him from its collective memory.
Quotes
"A soldier doesn't always make a good policeman. Sometimes there's too much sorrow in a soldier.""My father was the steward of Hume Wood, and I was the steward of Christendom."
"There was never enough gold in that uniform. If I had made commissioner I would have had gold, but that wasn’t a task for a Catholic"
“I loved her as long as she lived, I loved her as much as Cissy, my wife, and maybe more, or differently.“
Further reading
- Hunt Mahony, Christina (1998). Contemporary Irish Literature: Transforming Tradition. Basingstoke/London: Macmillan.
- Meche, Jude R. (2004). “Seeking ‘The Mercy of the Fathers’: Sebastian Barry’s The Steward of Christendom and the Tragedy of Irish Patriarchy”. Modern Drama 47: 3, 464-479.