Trouble and Exile in Mary Beckett's “A Belfast Woman” and Liam O'Flaherty's “Going Into Exile”

Victoria Martinez
Cherie Haines, Associate Professor
World Literature, Wednesday AM
March 20, 2013
Trouble and Exile in Mary Beckett 's “A Belfast Woman” and Liam O 'Flaherty 's “Going Into Exile”

Ireland has a great history that goes back ages ago. There are many stories written about Ireland. Liam O’Flaherty’s “Going into Exile” and Mary Beckett’s “A Belfast Woman” are short stories written about Ireland. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” have historical elements. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” have sociological elements. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” have psychological elements. These stories hold a certain message for people. Ireland is comprised of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The four ecclesiastical provinces are Ulster, Leinster, Munster, and Connaught. Within the provinces there are 32 countries. The whole island was under British rule before the partition in 1920-1922. Settlement of Ireland first took place in 6000 BC by hunters and fishers. The Gaels settled on the island around 600 and 150 BC. The Gaels subdued the hunters and fishers (Holwell).
The island was organized into five kingdoms around the time of Christ. Seven independent kingdoms had evolved in 400 AD. The kingdom’s kings had their armies raid neighboring Roman Britain and the Continent. One of the raids resulted in a 16 year old boy being captured and sold into slavery. The boy turned to religion during his enslavement and escaped when he was 22. He studied theology in the Roman church. He returned to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity. This person was Ireland’s patron, Saint Patrick (Holwell).
Ireland came under attack from the Vikings in the 9th and 10th centuries. The Danes invaded the island and were followed by Danish settlers in 853. The Danish settlers gradually assimilated with the local population and adopted Christianity. In 1152 the four ecclesiastical provinces were created. Gaelic and Danish elements helped form a united Church. The reform, and others advocated by the Irish church were frowned on by some. Pope Adrian IV was one of the people who frowned on the reform. He conferred on Henry II of England the lordship of Ireland in 1155. In 1168 the English invaded the island. The English began invoking reforms that deal with the granting of land and violated the traditional political and social structure (Holwell).
From the 12th century to 1400, Norman’s from England moved to Ireland. The Norman’s settled on the eastern areas. There was a conflict between the native Irish and the colonists. A law was enacted to keep the two populations separate in 1367. Henry VII extended English law to the entirety of Ireland. He also assumed supremacy over the existing Irish parliament. He tried to separate the Irish Church from the Papacy when he became king. When Queen Elizabeth ascended to the thrown Roman Catholicism became linked with Irish sentiment. The Irish refused to accept English imposed change (Holwell).
Northern Ireland conflict is centuries old. Constant revolts challenged the British rule of Ireland since the 12th century. This set of a chain of events which lead to civil war and partition of the island. Twenty-six countries in the south formed a separate state. Six countries in the north stayed within the UK. The Catholic minority in the north suffered discrimination over housing and jobs (Quick guide: Conflict in Northern Ireland).
The ‘Troubles’ begin in 1969. Catholic civil rights marches and counter-protests by Protest loyalists resulted in violent unrest. British troops were sent in to help but they got into conflict with the IRA (Irish Republic Army). Loyalist paramilitary groups started a campaign of violence against the Catholic community. As things begun to get worse, Northern Ireland’s parliament was suspended. Then direct rule imposed from London (Quick guide: Conflict in Northern Ireland).
There was violence on all sides. Paramilitary groups waged violent campaigns throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. The IRA carried out deadly bomb and gun attacks in Britain and Northern Ireland. The attacks targeted police, soldiers, politicians, and civilians. Catholics were targeted by loyalist paramilitaries in “tit-for-tat” killings. Police and British forces tried to keep order. Even though the police and British troops tried to keep order it resulted in controversy (Quick guide: Conflict in Northern Ireland).
There was peace in sight in the early 1990s. Negotiations took place between political parties and the British and Irish governments. After several years IRA and loyalist ceasefires held. Also in 1998 the “Good Friday” agreement was signed. The agreement set up a power-sharing executive, which included ministerial posts distributed by party strength, and elected assembly. The deal had been backed by voters in referendums in Northern Ireland and the Republic. This scrapped its constitutional claim to the north (Quick guide: Conflict in Northern Ireland).
In modern times the conflict is on opposing views of the area’s status. People in Northern Ireland believe it should remain part of the United Kingdom. Those people are mainly Protestant Unionists. Others believe it should leave the United Kingdom and become part of the Republic of Ireland. Those people are mainly Catholic Nationalists (Quick guide: Conflict in Northern Ireland).
These stories have historical elements in them. A historical element in “Going into Exile” is the hardships mentioned. The line that mentions hardships is “Her mother’s life loomed up before her eyes, a life of continual misery and suffering, hard work, birth pangs, sickness and again hard work and hunger and anxiety” (O 'Flaherty). This line shows that Mary’s mother faced hardships in her life. Mary’s mother most likely faced hardships because she is Catholic. Catholics were targeted in Ireland by violence. A historical element in “A Belfast Woman” is the Troubles. The story is set in the 1970s and the Troubles started in 1969. Since the story is set in these times you can see how it shows the historical presence. The Troubles is the conflict between Protestant and Catholic factors in Northern Ireland. Belfast was especially torn by violence on both sides.
A sociological element in “Going into Exile” is that they are living in poverty because of the government. There are two lines that show they are living in poverty. One line is “Feeney himself, a black-bearded, red-faced, middle-aged peasant…” (O 'Flaherty). This line states that Mr. Feeney is a peasant, which is a member of a class of people who are small farmers or farm laborers of low social rank. The other line is “It was kind of Uncle Ned to lend the money for the dance, father,” he said. “I‘d hate to think that we’d have to go without something or other, just the same as everybody else has. I’ll send you money the very first money I earn, father… even before I pay Aunt Mary for my passage money. I should have all that money paid off in four months, and then I’ll have more money to send you by Christmas” (O 'Flaherty).This line shows that others in their community are also poor because they go without. It also shows that they had to borrow the money for their travels and the party because they couldn’t afford it. A sociological element in “A Belfast Woman” is Mrs. Harrison family was struggling when she was younger. Her father had T.B. because of the pollution and died as a result of it. Her grandmother also died so it was up to her mom, her sister, and her to work at a mill. It was also hard on them because people were being threatened for employing or working with a Catholic.
These stories have psychological elements in them. A psychological element in “Going into Exile” is that Michael is motivated to make money. “Michael felt very strong and manly recounting what he was going to do when he got to Boston, Massachusetts. He told himself that with his great strength he would earn a great deal of money” (O 'Flaherty).This line shows Michaels motivation to earn money. A psychological element in “A Belfast Woman” is that Mrs. Harrison remembers what happened in the past. There are two events that she remembers that the letter brings out. “One of the first things I remember in my life was wakening up with my mother screaming downstairs when we were burnt out in 1921” (Beckett). This line states the first memory she thinks of because of the letter. “In 1935 when we got the letter threatening to burn us out I said to my mother “We’ll gather our things and we’ll go.” So we did and like all the rest of them in our street we went up to Glenard to the new houses.” (Beckett). This line states the second memory she thinks of because of the letter.
The stories may have many messages for someone. The message that “Going into Exile” has for me is that there are opportunities. The characters have the opportunity to go to America for a better future. Even though there are opportunities there are still sacrifices. The two children have to leave behind their family in order to go off and make money. So this story makes me realize that we must all give up something in order to have an opportunity. The message that “A Belfast Woman” has for me is that no matter how much darkness and hurt there is there is always hope. It is symbolized in the end when the man brings up the sunset. This story to me shows you there will be obstacles but we just have to get through them.
As you can see Ireland has a lot of history. In short Northern Ireland conflict is centuries old. There were the Troubles occurring from 1969 till the early 1990s. Still Ireland is in debate about the area’s status. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” has historical elements. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” have sociological elements. “Going into Exile” and “A Belfast Woman” have psychological elements. These stories hold those messages for me.

References
BBC News. 29 June 2006. 2013. .
Beckett, Mary. A Belfast Woman. 1980.
Holwell, John. Genealogy Pro. n.d. 2013. .
O 'Flaherty, Liam. Going into Exile. 1929.

References: BBC News. 29 June 2006. 2013. . Beckett, Mary. A Belfast Woman. 1980. Holwell, John. Genealogy Pro. n.d. 2013. . O 'Flaherty, Liam. Going into Exile. 1929.