The Last September & Translations

Cara, Manda, Casey, Elliott, Matt

Identity in The Last September

The Last September discusses identity through the story of Lois, an Anglo-Irish young adult who struggles to find her place in the world.

Support from The Last September

“She had a panic. She didn’t want to know what she was, she couldn’t bear it; knowledge of this would stop, seal, finish one. Was she now to be clapped down under an adjective, to crawl round life-long inside some quality like a fly in a tumbler? Mrs. Montmorency should not!” … “Every time she would wonder - what Lois was. She would never know,” (Bowen 83).

Explanation● Mrs. Montmorency shows fear of Lois’ identity in this passage by

expressing her feelings to Mrs. Naylor. The identity of Lois is a source of worry for her because Lois does not fit the typical identity of a young Anglo-Irish woman who would either be seeking a job or a husband at this point in her life.

● Mrs. Montmorency’s worry is probably because Lois does not outwardly show a strong desire to marry.

● On the other hand, she does not show much interest in an occupation, either.

Typical Irish fashion in the 1920s, a good description of what

Lois would look like, (Hood, Sam. Ingenues Arrive, Central Station,

Sydney, 1928-1929. N.d. State Library of New South Wales, New South

Wales. Dublin History. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.)

Support from The Last September

“As Lois never does anything or seems to want to, I suppose she must be hoping to marry someone,” (Bowen 75).

Explanation● In this era, and in this society, the default option for a woman was to

marry.● Since she was showing no other interests, her family just assumed this was

what she wanted to do.● In terms of identity, a woman loses herself in this sense, as her identity is

simply transferred from herself to her husband. ● It makes sense that she would struggle with her identity if it will be

transferred away from her through marriage.

Marriage in the 1920s

“Thus, despite the highly constrained nature of women’s lives from

the late 1920s up to the mid 1960s, Irish women as compared to

Irish men had enjoyed a disproportionate access to education,”

(http://english.chass.ncsu.edu/jouvert/v4i1/oconn.htm)

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Support from The Last September

“She wanted to go wherever the war hadn’t. She wanted to go somewhere nonchalant where politics bored them, where bands played out of doors in the hot nights and

nobody wished to sleep,” (Bowen 143).

Explanation● This is one of the few passages in the novel in which Lois shows any

interest in her plans. ● However, what she’s talking about here is more idealistic than practical,

reinforcing the idea that she is struggling with her identity.● It does make sense, though, that she would want to get away from the war;

in a way, the war has taken part of her identity.

Identity in Translations

A struggle for identity is seen through Owen, who works for the British Army but is trying to

maintain his Irish identity by ....

Irish Ordinance Survey

http://krisrobp

eru.com/what-

are-ordnance-

survey-maps/

Support from Translations

“Easy, man, easy. Owen - Roland - what the hell. It’s only a name. It’s still the same me, right? Well, isn’t it?” (Friel 37).

Explanation● Here, Owen is talking with Manus about the fact that his superior calls him

by an incorrect, Anglicized, version of his name. ● Owen’s family and friends are bothered by this and pick on him about the

mess-up.● While it is only a name, calling Owen Roland has symbolic implications. It

represents the British Anglicizing all of Ireland.● Owen’s confusion as to how to handle the mess-up represents Ireland’s

differing responses to the British’s actions - some welcomed it, some rejected it, and some were neutral.

Support from Translations“Back to the romance again… Or do we keep piety with a

man long forgotten, his name “eroded” beyond recognition, whose trivial little story nobody in the parish remembers?”

(Friel 53).

Explanation● This is an example of Owen sympathizing with the British and agreeing

that there is not much of a practical use for keeping the old Irish names of certain places and landmarks.

● His point here is that if nobody in the town even remembers why the place was named such, why keep it?

● However, one could argue that keeping the Irish name would preserve the Irish identity and heritage.

● Again, Owen struggles to maintain his Irish identity as a result of working with the British.

Support from Translations

“Owen (explodes) George! For God’s sake! My name is not Roland!”

“Yolland What?”“Owen (softly) My name is Owen,” (Friel 54).

Explanation● Owen gains a sense of self-realization in this passage.● Finally, he stands up to his superior and asserts himself by demanding to

be called by his true name. ● This passage can be seen as a major step in his journey of realizing his

identity - in his case, his national identity.

Compare & Contrast● While both of these stories deal with identity, The Last September is about

finding personal identity, while Translations deals with national identity.● They are both written during a turbulent time in British-Irish relations, but

The Last September is from an aristocracy viewpoint, while Translations is written from a lower socioeconomic status.

● In The Last September, Lois’ story ends with no real end to her journey of realizing her identity. She never fully finds herself.

● In Translations, Owen’s journey is more clear-cut. Through asserting his real name to his boss, the reader can sense a feeling of success for him.