Analysis On The Reasons Why Tom Murphy’s Being Devalued In Irish Drama

Tom Murphy and Brian Friel, as two famous Irish dramatists nowadays, both produced their plays at the end of 1950 s and finished a great deal of excellent plays. They became famous, however, at a different time. Tom Murphy, being 50 years old that time, did not call people’s attention till 1980 s. Since the first full-length play A Whistle in the Dark has been shown in London and caused a great sensation, Murphy raised a storm of controversial criticism in Ireland as well as in England. Afterwards, most his plays couldn’t be staged till 1980 when Murphy’s career started to be smooth. Apart from staging of early plays, his works were toured nationally and even presented in the Dublin Theatre Festival several times. Thus, the value of Murphy’s works has gradually been discovered. He was awarded many authoritative prizes in Ireland and London. In 2001, a theatre festival was held to celebrate his works, early or new. The research of his plays also increased in the early 21 st century. Brian Friel, however, who was 35 years old at most, achieved fame as early as in the later 1960 s. His products were appreciated from the start and when Translation was staged, Friel even became globally recognized and won many theatre prizes too. And a lot of papers and books to study his plays were published from 1970 s to now. So Brian Friel was regarded as ‘Ireland’s greatest living playwright’ [1]. By comparison, a problem is found, that is, why has Tom Murphy been recognized and famous almost 20 years after Brian Friel? Apparently it is not the ability of play creation that leads to such postponement, or Murphy’s plays wouldn’t be recognized again since 1980 s. Therefore, based on this question, the paper set to study the reasons that incur the question. Will it concern the political culture or mainstream or Irish drama at that time? So then the paper can further attempt to revalue Murphy’s plays and his status in Irish drama.So far, the research and papers relative to such point have not occurred. The paper will attempt to explore those reasons to uncover the undiscovered and real value of Murphy’s plays, then, accordingly, help to reassess his status and contribution in Irish dramaThe paper will select Murphy’s two representative plays, A Whistle in the Dark and Bailegangaire as the main reference books. The first one is Murphy’s first full-length play which was refused by Abbey theatre, the most famous and authoritative theatre in Ireland, but was staged in London. After the first show, it incurred a storm of criticism, at the same time, also aroused the aftermath that his later products became very difficult to be shown at any theatre at home, until 1980 s. Thus, some reasons can be dug out of A Whistle in the Dark. The other one, Bailegangaire, reflecting the theme of “search for home” which has been the top priority since 1980 s, can be used as the reference of summarizing the theme feature of Murphy’s drama and the reason why his plays start get attention since 1980 s. Of course, other themes referred to in the two plays, such as national economy, the relationship between father and son and so on, can help the paper writing too.The paper’s topic is “A Delayed Honor—to revalue Tom Murphy’s status in Irish drama”. There are 4 main parts:At the first part, introduction, the paper will narrate Murphy’s whole life in detail, including his play creation, the study of his works abroad and at home. Then this part will show the reason, object and significance of the selection. The frame of the whole paper will be listed also.Chapter two will be a summary of the characteristics and contributions to Murphy’ works. First, there will be the horizontal and vertical comparisons. The comparison between Murphy and contemporaneous Friel is horizontal, and between Murphy and the elders such as Yeats, O’Casey and Synge is vertical. Through the two aspects, Murphy’s features of theme and arts and his inheritance and transcendence of theme and style from the elders will be specified respectively. Next the excellent and unique characteristics of Murphy’s plays can be summarized. Accordingly, the chapter will raise the question: now that Murphy’s works are so outstanding, why their values are covered almost 20 years and start to get attentions and appreciation.Chapter three emphasizes on the deep reasons why Murphy possesses that high achievement and contribution but hasn’t been regarded as great as Brian Friel. The paper will try to analyze them from the mainstream of drama at that time and parochial nationalism in Ireland.Conclusion part aims at telling people the necessity to revalue Murphy’s drama values and contributions and his status. It is not that Murphy’s plays have not any values and features, but the political circumstance and cultural thoughts refuse Murphy’s uniqueness. The main tendency excludes his works and himself. Therefore, his real values and contribution are neglected. The conclusion should be that academic circles should revalue Murphy and his work and return him a delayed respect and honor.