The work of Lady Gregory: Her contribution to the Irish dramatic and literary revival

Abstract

The object of this Thesis is to give a picture of Lady Gregory's contribution to the Irish dramatic and literary movement. In the First Chapter the story of her life is outlined. Not until she had reached middle age, did she take part in the artistic and intellectual life of her country. Under the influence of W.B. Yeats' personality the slumbering spark of her creative and organising powers was kindled and she and her home at Coole became the centre of a revival of Irish culture. The Second Chapter describes her manifold activities as managing director, producer and playwright for the Irish theatre; her great success in the American tour, and her close connection with the Abbey until 1928.The Third and Fourth Chapters give a detailed account of Lady Gregory's dramatic work. Letters, notes, and remarks made at random in "Our Irish Theatre" have been examined in order to trace her artistic process. Lady Gregory's dramatic technique is then discussed and the plays themselves are dealt with in four groups: Comedies of Mythmaking, Tragedies, Tragi-Comedies, and Wonder Plays. The Fifth Chapter shows Lady Gregory's share in the revival and popularisation of the old sagas and her unwearying activities as a collector of folk-lore. The Sixth Chapter is devoted to the relation between Lady Gregory and W.B, Yeats: the personalties, the plays written in collaboration, and the stimulus W.B, Yeats' dramatic work received from Lady Gregory's epics. The Seventh Chapter examines the special use Lady Gregory made of the Anglo-Irish dialect as a medium both for stage purposes and for her narrative prose. In the Concluding Remarks the various aspects of her activities and achievements are summed up.