Theatre and Residual Culture

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Focusing on the interplay between pre-Christian culture and modernity, this analysis delves into Synge's plays and performances, highlighting his engagement with a residual culture in early 20th-century Ireland. It argues that Synge sought to redefine modernity for a Catholic middle-class audience by incorporating elements of animism, pantheism, folklore, and superstition from pre-Christian beliefs. Each chapter examines a specific play, revealing how these ancient cultural aspects shaped Synge's dramaturgy and reflected a longing for a forgotten cultural identity.