🎑The Rising Of The Moon🌕

The Background of the Play

The play is based on Political relationship between England and Ireland. Ireland was ruled by the Britishers, The people from Ireland were confused whether they should be happy with British rule or strive for the freedom of the nation. There was the conflict among the Irish population. Many people were of the opinion that they must continue with Britishers.but many were of the opinion that they must be seperated as an Independent Nation. The title of the Play is symbolic as "The Rising Of The Moon" symbolises the optimistic approach of the Irish people about getting Independent from the slavery of Britishers despite of many obstacles and difficulties.

Theme of the Play:- 

The one act Play "The Rising Of The Moon" has many themes such as 

• Anglo -Ireland Political relationship, 
• Power of Song, 
• Character's conflict between duty and Patriotism. Fluid Character.

The Characters in the Play

The Sergent:- An Irishman working for British government who ruled Irland. Sergeant is the post just below inspector in British Police.

Policeman -B and Policeman- X:- Both of them are the police constable who were working in British government in Irland. They both assigned the duty to search and capture the a rebellion who escaped from the jail. 

The Ragged Man:- The rebellion who escaped from the jail, he is a freedom fighter who had been struggling for the freedom of Irland and expecting that very soon Irland will be free from Britishers.

Settings of the Play:- "The Rising Of The Moon" is based on  Anglo -Ireland Political relationship at the beginning of the 20th century. It's near the sea port, the three Irish police man gathered at the quaysides in the small sea port town.  Ireland is under the British rules and the policeman had been serving under the Britishers. The whole story took place on the quay where sergeant had been waiting for the Man. 

Summary of the Play "The Rising Of The Moon"

The one-act paly "The Rising of The Moon” is written by Lady Gregory at the beginning of the 20th century. It was first in acted on the at the Abbey Theatre stage in March 1907. The play is based on the political relationship between England and Ireland as Ireland struggle for independence from English authority. The English have had a long history of dominance over Ireland. Lady Gregory portrays characters caught between duty and patriotism, but who are ultimately unified as Irishman by the stories, myths, and songs that they share as a nation. The idea of being a citizen of a country trumps feelings of responsibility to a foreign nation.

The play begins with a sergeant and two police officers pasting a notice or placard with the escaped prisoner’s physical information. The sergeant suggests that the warning be posted on the barrel. The barrel is reached through a flight of stairs. This place must be monitored since the escape’s associates may bring a boat there to aid him in escaping to a safe spot. The sergeant notices the poster and wishes he had seen it before escaping from jail. He is well aware that the desired person is no ordinary thief, but rather a major political figure. He is in charge of the overall plans of the Irish nationalist organisation. The sergeant believes he could not have escaped without the assistance of many jailors. Policeman B believes that the £100 reward is insufficient, but he is convinced that any officer who apprehends him will be promoted. The sergeant then states that he would take command of the situation himself because he is convinced that he can apprehend the wanted man himself. However, he bemoans the fact that he has no one to help him. He requires the funds because he has a family. Policeman B claims that if they catch him, the public will abuse them and their personal relationships will suffer as a result. The cops are aware of how popular the escapee is among the Irish. The sergeant, on the other hand, says that they were only doing their job. The police are responsible for maintaining peace and order throughout the country. Those who are down will rise if the officers fail to carry out their responsibilities, and vice versa. He tells the two cops to place the placards in different spots and asks them to return to the docks since he is alone with the moon. Policeman B complains that the government has not dispatched enough cops to the town. They say their goodbyes to the sergeant and leave.

Question For Practice.

1. How does the play explore the idea of national identity and patriotism?

Answer:-

In the play "The Rising of the Moon" by Lady Gregory, there are characters who care a lot about their country, Ireland. They sing songs that show their love for Ireland and want it to be free from British control. But there is also a British officer in the story, and this creates a conflict because he represents the British government's power over Ireland. So, the play is about the struggle between wanting Ireland to be independent and the British rule. It shows how people in Ireland felt about their country and how they showed their love for it.

2. What conflicts or dilemmas do the characters face in their pursuit of justice or freedom?

Answer:-

In "The Rising of the Moon" by Lady Gregory, the characters face conflicts and dilemmas while seeking justice and freedom for Ireland. The Ballad Singer wants to sing patriotic songs and spread the message of Irish freedom, but he must hide from the British authorities who want to stop him. The British Sergeant faces a dilemma because he begins to sympathize with the Irish cause, which goes against his duty to enforce British rule. This creates an inner conflict for him. Overall, the characters deal with the tension between their desire for justice and freedom for Ireland and the challenges posed by British rule and authority, leading to complex dilemmas.

3. Explain the theme “Irish Identity and Rebellion” of the play 'Rising Of The Moon'.  

OR

State the theme of the paly in brief. (2 Marks) 

Answer:-

In "The Rising of the Moon" by Lady Gregory, the theme of "Irish Identity and Rebellion" is about how the characters in the play show their strong Irish identity and their desire for rebellion against British rule. They sing songs and share stories that reflect their love for Ireland and their wish to be free from British control. This theme highlights the struggle of the Irish people to maintain their cultural identity and resist foreign rule.

4. Write the character sketch the Sergeant of the play “The Rising of the Moon”. (2 Marks) 

Answer:-

The Sergeant in "The Rising of the Moon" is a Irish person works as a British officer who represents the British government's authority in Ireland. He starts the play as a strict enforcer of British rule. However, as the story unfolds, he begins to sympathize with the Irish cause and their desire for freedom. This change in his character shows the internal conflict he faces between his duty to the British government and his growing understanding of the Irish people's struggle for independence.

5.Write the character sketch the Ballad Singer of the play “The Rising of the Moon”.  OR

Describe the Character of the "Man" from the one act paly "The Rising of The Moon" (2 Marks) 

Answer:-

The Ballad Singer in "The Rising of the Moon" is like a musical storyteller. He loves Ireland deeply and sings songs that express this love. He's passionate about Irish history and its fight for freedom. The Ballad Singer is brave because he risks getting caught by the British authorities to share these songs. He represents the heart and soul of the Irish people, their longing for freedom, and their pride in their culture. His character shows how powerful music and storytelling can be in keeping a nation's spirit alive.

6) Describe in brief how the 'Man' brought about the change a change in the mindset of the 'Sergent'.

Answer:-  In the one-act play "The Rising of the Moon" by Lady Augusta Gregory, "the Man" brings about a change in the mindset of "the Sergeant" by appealing to his Irish identity and patriotism. The Man shares a ballad about a legendary rebel, Robert Emmet, and his dedication to the cause of Irish independence. This stirs the Sergeant's dormant nationalist sentiments, causing him to reconsider his loyalty to the British authorities and eventually sympathize with the Man's cause for Irish freedom.

Detailed Story of The Rising of the Moon by Lady Gregory

The Rising of the Moon is a one-act play set in Ireland during a time of political unrest. It explores the conflict between personal duty and political beliefs, and how people can change when faced with difficult decisions.

Setting:

The play is set at night by a quay (a place near water where boats can dock). The scene is simple: a large barrel is placed on the ground, and a lamppost stands nearby. The sea can be heard in the background. The time is during British rule over Ireland, when many Irish people were fighting for independence.

Plot:

The story begins with three policemen coming to the quay. Their job is to capture a wanted political prisoner who has escaped from jail. The government has put a large reward for his capture, which motivates the police to be extra careful. The head of the group is the Sergeant, an experienced policeman. With him are two younger policemen who are eager to catch the prisoner.

The sergeant and his men put up a wanted poster with a description of the prisoner. They discuss how important it is to catch him because the reward is large. The younger policemen leave to search in other places, leaving the sergeant alone to watch for the prisoner near the water.

After some time, a ragged man enters the scene. He is dressed like a poor ballad singer (someone who sings songs and tells stories about heroes). The sergeant questions him, wondering if he has seen the escaped prisoner. The ragged man claims he hasn’t seen anyone, but he asks if he can stay and sing some songs while waiting for his friend.

The sergeant, though suspicious, allows the ragged man to stay. The two start talking. The ragged man sings ballads about old Irish heroes and rebels who fought for the country’s freedom. As they talk, the sergeant begins to remember his younger days when he, too, admired the Irish rebels. The ragged man speaks about how Ireland has always struggled under British rule and how the people need to unite and fight for freedom.

The sergeant starts to feel confused about his duty. On one hand, he has to obey the law and arrest the prisoner. On the other hand, he sympathizes with the rebel cause, especially after hearing the songs and stories from the ragged man.

As the conversation goes on, the ragged man reveals that he is actually the escaped political prisoner. He is the very man the sergeant is supposed to arrest. The sergeant now faces a moral dilemma: should he arrest the man and claim the reward, or should he let him go because he understands the prisoner’s cause?

The prisoner pleads with the sergeant to let him escape, reminding him that they both care about Ireland’s freedom. The sergeant is torn between his duty to the law and his feelings for the cause. Eventually, the sergeant makes a decision. He lets the prisoner go, helping him escape by a boat.

When the younger policemen return, they ask the sergeant if he saw the prisoner. The sergeant, still unsure about his decision but unable to go back, says he didn’t see anything. The policemen leave, and the sergeant is left alone, reflecting on the choice he made.

The play ends with the prisoner escaping and the sergeant remaining behind, silently questioning his actions and his loyalties.

Major and Minor Characters:

Major Characters:

1. The Sergeant:

The sergeant is the main character. He is a middle-aged policeman who is loyal to his job and his duty. At the beginning of the play, he is determined to catch the escaped prisoner and claim the reward. However, as the story progresses, his feelings change. The sergeant starts to sympathize with the prisoner and remember his own past, when he might have supported the same cause as the rebels. In the end, he faces a tough choice: follow the law or follow his heart. His inner conflict is the central theme of the play

2. The Ragged Man (The Escaped Prisoner):

The ragged man is actually the political prisoner the police are searching for. He is clever and disguises himself as a poor ballad singer to avoid capture. Through his stories and songs, he reminds the sergeant about Ireland’s struggle for freedom. The ragged man is determined and smart, and he uses his words to appeal to the sergeant’s emotions. In the end, his plan works, and he convinces the sergeant to let him go.

Minor Characters:

1. The Policemen:

These are the two younger policemen who are helping the sergeant catch the escaped prisoner. They are eager and excited about the possibility of catching the prisoner and earning the reward. However, they play a small role in the story, as they leave the sergeant alone for most of the play.

2. The Escaped Prisoner (who is not shown but talked about):

The escaped prisoner is a symbol of the Irish rebellion. Even though we never see him directly, he is the reason for the tension in the play. He represents the struggle for Irish freedom and the conflict between law and rebellion. The ragged man is this prisoner, and his story drives the sergeant’s internal conflict.

Themes:

1. Loyalty vs. Duty: The sergeant has to choose between being loyal to his job or loyal to his country’s cause.

2. Patriotism: The play talks about the love for one’s country and the struggle for freedom.

3. Moral Dilemma: The sergeant faces a moral question: should he do what’s right by the law, or what’s right by his heart?

4. Conflict between Past and Present: qThe sergeant remembers his younger days when he admired Irish rebels, but now he’s a policeman working for the British government.

Share