Manus Character Analysis in Translations

Hugh’s elder son and Owen’s brother, Manus, works as an unpaid assistant to his father and occasionally steps in as teacher at the hedge school in Baile Beag. He is in his late twenties or early thirties, pale, thin, and has an air of intensity. He is also lame, which is eventually revealed to be the result of Hugh falling across Manus’ cradle when Manus was a baby. Manus patiently and enthusiastically teaches Sarah to say her name in the opening moments of the play but later grows cold towards her. Manus also feels responsible for his father and, much to Maire’s frustration, refuses to apply for a teaching position at the new national school because he does not want to compete with Hugh for the job. Though bilingual, Manus refuses to speak English in front of the British officers, revealing his resentment of British colonialism in Ireland. Engaged to Maire at the beginning of the play, a heartbroken Manus confronts her and Yolland after Sarah sees the two kissing. He is holding a rock in his hand at the time and shouts at the couple. When Yolland then goes missing, Manus flees Baile Beag despite Owen’s warnings that this will make Manus seem suspicious.

Manus Quotes in Translations

The Translations quotes below are all either spoken by Manus or refer to Manus. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

All Translation Is Interpretation Theme Icon

Bridget: Did you know that you start at the age of six and you have to stick at it until you're twelve at least — no matter how smart you are or how much you know.

Doalty: Who told you that yarn?

Bridget: And every child from every house has to go all day, every day, summer or winter. That's the law.

Doalty: I'll tell you something — nobody's going to go near them — they're not going to take on — law or no law.

Bridget: And everything's free in them. You pay for nothing except the books you use […] And from the very first day you go, you'll not hear one word of Irish spoken. You'll be taught to speak English and every subject will be taught through English and everyone'll end up as cute as the Buncrana people.

Related Characters: Bridget (speaker), Doalty (speaker), Manus

Page Number and Citation: 19

Explanation and Analysis:

While waiting for Hugh to arrive to the hedge school, Bridget elaborates on what she knows about the new national school soon opening nearby. The British began to implement such schools throughout Ireland in the 1830s, inevitably spelling death for rural, Irish-language hedge schools like Hugh’s. Doalty’s refusal to believe that the new schools will thrive will be proven wrong by history, and the national school system reveals one way in which colonialism suppresses native culture. The play will continue to develop the connection between language and cultural history, asserting that, by forcing the Irish population at large to be Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperi

Maire: I'm talking about the Liberator, Master, as you well know. And what he said was this: “The old language is a barrier to modern progress.” He said that last month. And he's right. I don’t want Greek. I don't want Latin. I want English.

Manus reappears on the platform above.

I want to be able to speak English because I'm going to America as soon as the harvest's all saved.

Related Characters: Maire Chatach (speaker), Manus, Hugh

Page Number and Citation: 24-25

Explanation and Analysis:

Upon his arrival at the hedge school, Hugh tells the class about his meeting with the British Captain Lancey, who is in charge of the Ordnance Survey. Hugh told Lancey that the Irish culture better pairs with the “classical tongues” of Latin and ancient Greek than it does with English. Maire rebukes Hugh’s claim, quoting Irish political leader Daniel O’Connell and asserting that English would be far more useful to the class than either of those dead languages. The forward-thinking Maire is aware that going to America will afford her far more opportunities than she could find as a milkmaid Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque o

Maire: You talk to me about getting married — with neither a roof over your head nor a sod of ground under your foot. I suggest you go for the new school; but no - 'My father’s in for that.' Well now he's got it and now this is finished and now you've nothing.

Manus: I can always ...

Maire: What? Teach classics to the cows? Agh —

Related Characters: Maire Chatach (speaker), Manus (speaker), Hugh

Page Number and Citation: 31

Explanation and Analysis:

Maire says this to Manus after he confronts her for not telling him that she was definitely leaving for America. This moment helps clarify the relationship between the two—revealing that they had been in a romantic relationship and were even discussing marriage—and also further establishes Maire’s forward-thinking nature. Maire realizes that the implementation of the British national schools across the country will be end of hedge schools like Hugh’s. Manus, meanwhile, seems incapable of taking steps to move his life forward, instead allowing his ambitions to be constantly hampered by his father. Not embracing the future, Maire points out, has Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Expl

Manus: And they call you Roland! They both call you Roland!

Owen: Shhhhh. Isn't it ridiculous? They seem to get it wrong from the very beginning — or else they can't pronounce Owen. I was afraid some of you bastards would laugh.

Manus: Aren't you going to tell them?

Owen: Yes - yes - soon - soon.

Manus: But they...

Owen: Easy, man, easy. Owen - Roland - what the hell. It's only a name. It's the same me, isn't it? Well, isn't it?

Related Characters: Owen (speaker), Manus (speaker), Captain Lancey, Lieutenant Yolland

Page Number and Citation: 36-37

Explanation and Analysis:

After Owen has introduced Lancey and Yolland to the Baile Beag locals, Manus confronts his brother about the fact that both British soldiers call Owen “Roland.” Owen is initially nonchalant about the mistake, making excuses for the British and asserting that it does not matter what he is called because he is the same man regardless. He does not yet understand the deep connection between names and identity; this lack of understanding or care, in fact, is what initially allows Owen to unhesitatingly aid the British in their anglicization of Irish place names. As the play progresses, however, and Owen Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Op

Owen: Can't you speak English before your man?

Manus: Why?

Owen: Out of courtesy.

Manus: Doesn't he want to learn Irish? (to Yolland) Don't you want to learn lrish?

Yolland: Sorry - sorry? I - I –

Manus: I understand the Lanceys perfectly but people like you puzzle me.

Related Characters: Owen (speaker), Manus (speaker), Lieutenant Yolland (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 42

Explanation and Analysis:

Manus enters the hedge school while Owen and Yolland are working but speaks only in Irish in front of the men—meaning Yolland has no idea what Manus is saying. Manus’ refusal to speak English reveals his resentment of the British presence in Baile Beag and comprises a political act of asserting Irish identity in the face of colonialism. This underscores the growing tension between the Irish and British that simmers in the background even as Yolland falls more deeply in love with Irish culture. Manus has no difficulty grasping the prejudice of men like Lancey, who view the Irish as Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit u

Manus: (again close to tears) But when I saw him standing there at the side of the road - smiling - and her face buried in his shoulder - I couldn't even go close to them. I just shouted something stupid - something like, 'You're a bastard, Yolland.' If I'd even said it in English... 'cos he kept saying 'Sorry-sorry?' The wrong gesture in the wrong language.

Related Characters: Manus (speaker), Lieutenant Yolland, Maire Chatach

Page Number and Citation: 70

Explanation and Analysis:

While preparing to flee from Baile Beag, Manus tells Owen and Sarah about the confrontation he nearly had with Yolland and Maire the previous night after Sarah told him about their kiss. Angry and hurt, Manus initially meant to attack Yolland but found himself unable to follow through. Instead, he shouted at Yolland in Irish. His insult proved useless, however, just as all the other times he tried to snub Yolland flew right over the Lieutenant’s head. Manus has spoken in Irish in front of the British soldiers throughout the play as a means to assert his identity and resist Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciun

Manus Character Timeline in Translations

The timeline below shows where the character Manus appears in Translations. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Language, Culture, and Identity Theme Icon

Colonialism and Cultural Imperialism Theme Icon

...late August of 1833 in the Irish-Speaking townland of Baile Bag/Balleybeg in County Donegal, Ireland. Manus and Sarah are in a hedge school situated in a dusty old barn, full of... (full context)

Manus, the school master’s older son, is in his late twenties or early thirties with shabby... (full context)

Manus holds Sarah’s hand as he calmly instructs her to repeat phrases after him. She is... (full context)

Manus looks out the window and wonders aloud where “he” (someone yet unknown) is. Sarah mimes... (full context)

A “strong-minded, strong-bodied” woman in her twenties named Maire enters. Manus feels awkward that she saw him kissing Sarah and he comments on having seen Maire... (full context)

Manus apologizes for not seeing Maire the previous night, saying he had been called upon to... (full context)

...it a few paces to confuse them and assert “a presence.” Jimmy recites Latin and Manus beats Doalty to translating it. (full context)

...if anyone knows the name of Nellie Ruadh’s baby, who was christened earlier that day. Manus asks where the Donnelly twins are, and Bridget begins to answer before commenting on the... (full context)

Manus walks around the school room to check in with each student. Upon reaching Maire, she... (full context)

Manus’ father, Hugh—a large, dignified yet shabbily-dressed man—enters carrying a stick. He has clearly been drinking,... (full context)

Hugh tells Manus to get him a cup of tea and then address the class. He says that... (full context)

...letting the men in, Owen says he is now on their payroll. Sarah excitedly tells Manus that she “said it,” but he ignores her, too interested in his brother. Owen says... (full context)

Hugh has everyone frantically tidy the room. Manus approaches Maire and remarks that she should have told him she was definitely leaving Ireland.... (full context)

As the others mingle, Manus confronts Owen about mistranslating the soldiers’ words. Manus says that the undertaking sounds like a... (full context)

Manus enters. When Yolland asks if he needs them to leave, Manus says no, but he... (full context)

After Manus leaves, Yolland asks Owen if his brother has been crippled since birth. Owen reveals that... (full context)

Doalty rushes in looking for Manus. He asks Yolland how he is; Yolland attempts to thank Doalty for something, but Doalty... (full context)

...is shocked, and the absurdity of the situation suddenly causes them to laugh. An elated Manus enters and says he has news; Owen asks him to speak English for Yolland, whom... (full context)

Maire arrives with a milk delivery. Manus tells her the news and attempts to thank her for something, but Maire interrupts him... (full context)

...Yolland said in Irish. They kiss. Sarah enters, sees them, and runs off shouting for Manus. Music crescendos. (full context)

...her lap and Owen with his map. Both are distracted and look towards the stairs. Manus descends with a bag of clothes and begins urgently selecting books from around the room... (full context)

Manus asks if Owen will be around a while longer, and he instructs Owen to tell... (full context)

Manus reveals that he had planned to violently confront Yolland the night before and was holding... (full context)

Manus again asks Owen to give his message to Inis Meadhon; Owen repeats that it will... (full context)

...did, but that they did not see them return. Bridget says she did not see Manus following them but saw him returning alone later. Owen asks if they saw Manus stay... (full context)

Doalty agrees with Owen that Manus was a fool to leave and that the army will be after him. Lancey enters... (full context)

Hugh shouts for Manus to bring him tea. Jimmy says he is marrying Athene and he and Hugh jokingly... (full context)

Manus Character Analysis

Manus Quotes in Translations

Act 1 Quotes

Act 2, Scene 1 Quotes

Act 3 Quotes

Manus Character Timeline in Translations