"Old Cod": The Power of Storytelling in Conor McPherson's The Weir

Author

Sarah Johnson, Chapman UniversityFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

First Advisor

Justine Van Meter

Second Advisor

Joanna Levin

Third Advisor

Mildred Lewis

Abstract

This paper examines the representation of Irish storytelling in Conor McPherson’s 1997 play The Weir. Drawing on postcolonial theory as well as the historical context of Ireland during the play’s release, I argue that The Weir is uniquely positioned at the intersection of traditional and modern values. Further, I assert that fairy legend is a tool used by the play’s characters to both understand and escape a fluctuating cultural landscape, and ultimately, a way to articulate their own values. Using textual analysis, I examine the rhetorical choices of the play’s storytellers and compare it with established conventions of Irish fairy legend. More broadly, I argue for storytelling as a way of negotiating values during times of change.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Johnson, Sara Nicole. "Old Cod": The Power of Storytelling in Conor McPherson's The Weir. 2024. Chapman University, MA Thesis. Chapman University Digital Commons, https://doi.org/10.36837/chapman.000582