John Millington Synge

Synge, John Millington - Ein Inselbewohner auf Inishmaan, einer der Aran-Inseln im Westen Irlands (Zeno Fotografie)

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John Millington Synge - Project Gutenberg eText 19028

Teach Synge Inishmaan

John Millington Synge (16 April 1871 – 24 March 1909) was an Irish playwright, poet, prose writer, and collector of folklore. He is best known for his play The Playboy of the Western World, which caused riots in Dublin during its opening run at the Abbey Theatre. Synge was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival and was one of the co-founders of the Abbey Theatre with W.B. Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory. His works are a vital part of Irish literature and continue to be studied and celebrated for their exploration of Irish life, language, and folklore.

Biography

John Millington Synge was born in Rathfarnham, near Dublin, Ireland, into an upper-middle-class Protestant family. Despite his conventional upbringing, Synge's education and reading led him to question the norms of his society. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and later at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, showing early talent in music and languages. However, it was his encounters with the Aran Islands and their inhabitants that profoundly influenced his writing and outlook on life. Encouraged by W.B. Yeats, whom he met in Paris in 1896, Synge spent several summers on the islands, learning Irish and collecting folklore. These experiences would form the basis for many of his later works.

Literary Career

Synge's literary career began with a series of articles and essays, but it was his plays that garnered him fame. His first play, In the Shadow of the Glen, was performed in 1903 to critical acclaim. This was followed by Riders to the Sea (1904), a tragic one-act play set on the Aran Islands, which is often considered his masterpiece. The Well of the Saints (1905) and The Playboy of the Western World (1907) further established his reputation as a leading playwright. The Playboy of the Western World, in particular, provoked outrage and riots at its premiere due to its portrayal of Irish rural life and its perceived slight against Irish womanhood.

Themes and Style

Synge's work is characterized by its rich use of the English language, deeply influenced by the Hiberno-English dialect of the Irish peasantry. His plays often explore themes of nature, the supernatural, and the struggle of the individual against societal norms. Synge's portrayal of Irish rural life is both romantic and realistic, capturing the beauty and harshness of the landscape and the resilience and dreams of its people.

Legacy

John Millington Synge died of Hodgkin's disease on 24 March 1909, at the age of 37. Despite his relatively short life and career, Synge's impact on Irish literature and theatre is profound. His works continue to be performed and celebrated for their lyrical beauty, humor, and insight into the human condition. Synge's influence can be seen in the works of later Irish writers and playwrights, and he remains a central figure in the study of Irish literature.

Selected Works

• In the Shadow of the Glen (1903)
• Riders to the Sea (1904)
• The Well of the Saints (1905)
• The Playboy of the Western World (1907)
• Deirdre of the Sorrows (published posthumously in 1910)

See Also

• Irish Literary Revival
• Abbey Theatre
• W.B. Yeats
• Augusta Gregory