An Triail - Téama

Is í fimíneacht mhuintir na hÉireann i lár na chéad seo caite an téama an dráma seo. Déantar forbairt ar an téama seo i rith an dráma trí chás Mháire Ní Chathasaigh.

The hypocrisy of the people of Ireland in the middle of the last century is the theme of this play. This theme is developed throughout the play through the case of Mary Ní Chathasaigh.

Bhí ról láidir ag an Eaglais Chaitliceach sa tir agus bhi tionchar mór aici ar shochai agus ar mhuintir na tíre. Ach cé go bhfuil barraíocht religiúin le sonrú in 'An Triail', tá an chriostaíocht an-ghann ann.

The Catholic Church played a strong role in the country and had a great influence on society and the people of the country. But while there is an excess of religion in 'The Trial', Christianity is very scarce there.

tá Máire ag iompar clainne. Ba mhór an chonspóid í ag an am sin in Éirinn cailin óg neamhphosta a bheith torrach. San Eaglais, ceapadh gur peaca marfach é caidreamh collai a bheith ann idir lánúin neamhphósta. Ceapadh gur rud náireach agus neamhghlan é a bheith torrach gan a bheith pósta agus rinneadh na cailíní bochta sa chás sin a imeallú.

Máire is pregnant. At that time in Ireland, it was a great controversy for a young unmarried girl to be pregnant. In the Church, sexual relations between unmarried couples were considered a mortal sin. It was considered shameful and unclean to be pregnant without being married and the poor girls in that case were marginalized.

Fear gan puinn scrupaill is ea Pádraig, leannán Mhaire. Is fear pósta é, ach ni féidir leis smacht a choinneáil ar a mhianta. Is duine é a théann i bhfeidhm ar chailini óga soineanta cosúil le Máire

Mary's lover, Patrick, is a man without any scruples/morals. He is a married man, but he cannot control his desires. He is a person who takes advantage of young innocent girls like Mary

Feictear téama na fimíneachta seo go soiléir i gcarachtar na máthar. Is fimineach amach is amach i. Is beag grá a léirion Bean Ui Chathasaigh dá hinion agus í in umar na haimiléise. Tugann sí bata agus bóthar di agus deanann si iarracht 'deireadh a chur leis an ngin a bhi fós gan bhreith i mbroinn Mhaire.

This theme of hypocrisy is clearly seen in the character of the mother. She is an out and out hypocrit. Bean Ui Cathasaigh shows little love for her daughter while she is in a miserable plight. She throws her out and tries to 'end the unborn child in Mary's womb.

Ni léirion si aon chriostaiocht ná fiú aon ghrá máthar dona hinion féin agus i i dtrioblóid. Dar léi, tharraing Máire naire uirthi, os comhair an pharóiste agus os comhair na comharsan agus tá si níos buartha faoi sin na faoi fhollaine/shláinte a hinine

She shows no Christianity or even any maternal love for her daughter while she is in trouble. She brought shame on her, in front of the parish and in front of her neighbours and she was more worried about that than the wellbeing/health of her daughter.

Tréigtear í agus déantar í a sheachaint agus a imeallú. Tá gach duine buartha faoin bpeaca a rinne sí agus faoi thuairimi na gcomharsan. Nil éinne buartha faoi Mháire bhocht féin ná faoin gcruachás ina bhfuil sí

She is abandoned, avoided and marginalised. Everyone is worried about the sin she has committed and the opinions of her neighbours. No one is worried about poor Máire or the plight she is in.

Caitear go dona léi agus tá an tsochaí agus gach éinne a mhaireann thart timpeall uirthi ciontach as ar tharla di. Cé go bhfuil an tsochaí chéanna maos le reiligiún, ní léirítear críostaiocht ná trócaire ar bith do Mháire. Léiríonn sé seo téama na fimíneachta go laidir sa dráma seo.

She is badly treated and society and everyone around her is guilty for what happened to her. Although the same society is steeped in religion, no Christianity or mercy is shown to Mary. This strongly illustrates the theme of feminism in this drama.

Cuirtear an milleán ar Mháire féin sa dráma mar gheall ar thionchar na hEaglaise. Is striapach í Máire i súile an phobail agus i súile na heaglaise. Níl an dara rogha aici ach imeacht ó bhaile agus nil i ndán di ach dibirt agus tragóid

The blame is placed on Mary herself in the drama because of the influence of the Church. Mary is a prostitute in the eyes of the community and the church. She has no choice but to leave home and all that awaits her is banishment and tragedy

Mar a deir Seáinín an Mhótair: 'Bhris sí na rialacha. An té a bhriseann rialacha an chluiche cailltear ann é.' Briseann Máire na rialacha agus íocann sí go daor as

As Seáinín an Mótair says: 'She broke the rules. He who breaks the rules of the game loses in it.' Mary breaks the rules and she pays dearly for it.

Chaití go dona le máithreach neamhphósta ag tús na seascaidí. Níor theastaigh ó éinne aon bhaint a bheith acu leo.

Chaití leo ar nós coirpeach. Bhi caighdeán dhúbhailte, an bhréagchráifeacht agus an fhimineacht i gceannas ar an tír.

Unmarried mothers were badly treated in the start of the sixties. No one wanted anything to do with them.

They were treated like criminals. A double standard, bigotry and hypocrisy were in charge of the country.

Tugtar léargas cuimsitheach dúinn ar shaol agus ar shochaí na hÉireann i lár an chéid seo caite sa dráma seo. Cuirtear an cheist: 'Cé a deir gur tír chríostai í seo?' Fágtar fúinne, an lucht féachana, an cheist sin a fhreagairt. Ní pictiúr álainn rómánsúil de thír na hÉireann a chuirtear os ár gcomha

A comprehensive insight into Irish life and society in the middle of the last century is given in this drama. The question is asked: 'Who says this is a Christian country?' It is left to us, the audience, to answer this question. It is not a beautiful romantic picture of the country of Ireland that is presented to us.