Philidelphia, Here I Come!: Why does Gar have to leave Ireland? - page 3
Keywords: Philidelphia, Here I Come! Gar Ireland Brian Friel Public Private
By roshooo on 10/06/2010
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 3 of 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5
as Lizzy said to him, ‘if we’ll have him, he says; he says if we’ll have him! That’s why we’re here!’
Friel also presents the people in Ballybeg very negatively. A number of characters are presented through their worst characteristics. Some of these characters include Senator Doogan, the Canon and even Boyle. These people being such terrible people to idolize reinforce Gar’s decision. Senator Doogan is a very manipulative man with high standards, ‘We don’t want to raise Kate’s hopes unduly, but strictly between ourselves there’s a good chance that he’ll get the new dispensary job here’, Senator Doogan represents middle class prejudice in the play. He is rude without being directly offensive and this is a terrible characteristic which puts him in a category of people who really accomplished nothing with their lives.
Boyle is described immediately with his appearance, ‘He is around sixty white-haired, handsome, defiant. He is shabbily dressed; his eyes, head, hands, arms are constantly moving,’ he does not make any attempt to look presentable. He feels no reason to do so. This shows a somewhat apathetic state of mind which is terrifying to Gar as it probably surfaced because Boyle never really got out of Ballybeg. Friel also informs us that Boyle is with Gar begging for money to buy alcohol. This presentation is almost saddening as it shows Gar what he could be like if he does not leave and make something of himself. Gar is also aware that Boyle used to go out with his mother and this strengthens the theory that he may turn out like Boyle, because he seems almost like a father to him. Gar does not see Boyle as his father, but rather like a fatherly figure as he taught him when he was younger and also because, although he was drunk, Boyle was one of the few people who showed genuine emotion was Gar discussed his leaving Ballybeg however, as much as this touched Gar, there were more negative aspects about Boyle to concentrate on than positive ones Boyle had one dream, to become a writer however, he sadly failed. This heart-breaking reality becomes more upsetting when we hear about Boyle’s unreal fantasy about working and living in America, “I’ve been offered a big post in Boston, head of education in a reputable university there”. The chances of this dream being true are slim and Gar realizes
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