The Plough and the Stars (1/8)

This story is set in the Dublin tenements in the year 1916. It centres on a young married couple called Jack and Nora Clitheroe. Jack is a member of the Irish Citizen Army. Nora is ambitious to move out of the tenements and to prevent her husband from involving himself further in politics. Jack learns that she has burned a letter which tells him that he has been promoted Commandant and he is to lead a reconnaissance attack on Dublin Castle. Jack is furious and leaves the house at once. We get some insight into the particular quality of tenement life through the various characters. Mollser is a young girl who is the final stages of tuberculosis. She ironically tells Nora how she envies her health and happy home. Later on in the play Nora becomes pregnant and loses her child. She also goes mad with grief over the loss of her husband.
The story shows the whole futility of violence and its devastating effect on people. Jack is killed in the rising. Bessie Burgess another tenement dweller who espouses the cause of the British is shot by British soldiers at the conclusion of the play.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• The
• Plough
• and
• the
• Stars
• socialism
• james
• connolly

[Laoch111]

Is this the 1936 adaption?

[1798Greenflag1916]

@Laoch111 , Yes

[GeoStrum3]

Ms. Stanwyck gives a sensitive and restrained performance in the part of the heroine.

[beggo321]

@classytrebor When I studied the play for the Leaving Cert I also hated it, but 2 years on I decided to give it a second chance and read it in its entirity. Now, it's one of the most meaningful and touching stories I have ever read. I think its because my teacher inforced the play onto our class that made me resent it. My advise is to read the play out of pleasure rather than complusion.

[classytrebor]

What a shit fucking play, I've to do it for my leaving cert:/

[magiclard]

A very worthwhile addition keep up the goob work I never tire of your films.

[Laoch111]

@1798Greenflag1916 Thanks.