Conflict, Carnage, and Cats: Toward a Comic Cú Chulainn in Martin McDonagh's "The Lieutenant of Inishmore"

There are certain thematic, ideological, and figural connections between Cú Chulainn, the epic hero of the "Táin Bó Cúailnge" of Ireland's mythological Ulster Cycle, and Padraic from Martin McDonagh's "The Lieutenant of Inishmore." Knox utilizes the mythology of Cú Chul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comparative drama Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 367 - 392
Main Author: Knox, A. J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Kalamazoo, Mich Comparative Drama, Department of English, Western Michigan University 22.09.2013
Western Michigan University
Comparative Drama
Western Michigan University, Department of English
Subjects:
Comedy
Criticism and interpretation
Drama
Dramatists
Epics
Folk literature
Folklore
Heroes
Heroism
Humor
Ideology
Intertextuality
Irish drama
Irish nationalism
Killing
McDonagh, Martin
Myth
Mythology
National identity
Postmodernism
Religious terrorism
Terrorism
Theater
Themes
Violence
Works
Ireland
Inishmore
ISSN:0010-4078, 1936-1637, 1936-1637
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:There are certain thematic, ideological, and figural connections between Cú Chulainn, the epic hero of the "Táin Bó Cúailnge" of Ireland's mythological Ulster Cycle, and Padraic from Martin McDonagh's "The Lieutenant of Inishmore." Knox utilizes the mythology of Cú Chulainn as a lens through which to view McDonagh's contemporary exploration of the Irish "hero" as it pertains to both theatrical and cultural spheres. Through a comparative study of the two texts, he examines the ways in which "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" satirizes ideologies permeating the sectarian conflict in Ireland during the latter half of the 20th century. Knox analyzes McDonagh's comic subversion of Cú Chulainn's status as a symbol for Irish nationalism, leading to the development and construction of a postmodern comic hero for a divided Ireland.
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ISSN:0010-4078
1936-1637
1936-1637
DOI:10.1353/cdr.2013.0033