Riders To The Sea

Riders to the sea
J.M.Synge’s Riders to the Sea is a remarkable dramatic presentation of an elegiac situation,

represented both on a personal level of individual life and on a universal level of spiritual
journey. This is implicated in the title of the play itself. On the surface, it is clearly a play about
the two riders—the living man on the red mare and the dead one on the grey pony. Beneath this
apparent simplification, there are echoes of Biblical archetypes and mythologies far deeper than
the surface connotations.
The title, when seen from a more critical perspective, appears to contain a peculiar dichotomy.
This, in turn, serves to highlight something special. Normally “riding” is not associated with
“sea” as easily as “sailing” is. The very fact that Synge does not mention sailors in his title,
directs at a deliberate strategy to create an air of un-naturality and doom. Bartley is not shown as
a fisherman or sailor but as a rider, a transgressor, predestined to a fruitless extinction.
From another perspective, it can be said that every character in “Riders to the Sea”—Cathleen,
Nora, Bartley and even Maurya, is part of an elemental journey, as riders to the sea of eternity.
While Cathleen, Nora and Bartley represent the starting points of such spiritual voyage, conscious
of apparent reality and need for sustenance, Maurya reaches a climactic stage followed by her
anagnorisis.
It is at this point that the words “riders” and “sea” go beyond their usual significations to mean
something far more universal and enduring.
all men are, after all, riders to the same unappeasable sea, and to accept Maurya’s blessing is to
participate in the tragic experience of the play—not about human futility but about a
reconciliation between mortality and awareness, riding toward a pre-destined yet enlightened end.
Synge suggests the cruelty of the sea and human helplessness before its omnipotent power. Synge’s
choice of title is the superb brainwork of his genius.
The title “Riders to the sea” is the most significant and symbolic to the thematic journey. The main
theme of the play, Riders to the Sea is the conflict between man and the sea. The title is very attractive
and thought-provoking. The readers are curious to know who the riders are. They will deep into the
sea with the riders. Then the mystery will be revealed and the readers will shed tears. The two riders
Barthey and Michael represent the whole riders of the peasant families of Aran Islanders. Real beauty
will come out with the fragrance of the title.
The title helps us to go deep into the text and the sea. The story is about the tragic fate of Maurya an
old woman of the island. She has her father-in-law, her husband, and six sturdy sons. They are all
riders to the sea. But all of them except Bartley were devoured before the curtain rises. The play is
about the last rider, Bartley. Maurya’s fifth son Michael was drowned in the sea nine days before the
play begins. Bartley wants to go to the sea. Maurya dissuades but Bartley says Cathleen “It’s a life of
a Youngman to be going to the sea.” The sea devours him also. Happiness and enjoyment bid them
farewell. Sorrows and sufferings are the part and parcel of their riding.
The title has a biblical significance. If we have a look at the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament, we
will realize the symbolical meaning. When the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen
went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon but the people of Israel walked on
dry ground in the midst of the sea. Then Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tumbrel in
her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dancing.
The title has also a supernatural element. One of the riders is the ghost of Michael who pursues his
living brother and takes him from this world.
The title also emphasizes the mythic and supernatural elements. It indicates the manner in which the
final tragedy overtakes Maurya. The sea has devoured all the males of Maurya’s family. All are the
riders to the sea. The lives of the Aran islanders are determined by the sea. Their fates are destined by
the hungry sea, whereas Pharash’s horsemen were punished by their misdeeds. Synge with his tragic
scheme pushes the riders into the sea. So all the riders have taken shelter under the sea after their
death. Hence the title is very suggestive and symbolic.

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Riders to the sea

J.M.Synge’s Riders to the Sea is a remarkable dramatic presentation of an elegiac situation,

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