Values of Gaelic Literature - Essay Example

VALUES OF GAELIC LITERATURE By Values of Gaelic Literature Gaelic prose and poetry are largely regarded as creative illustrations of the cultural values and attitudes in a variety of forms. Some of the influential poets of Gaelic literature demonstrate a deep connection with cultural values by way of characterization, theme, style, and rhythm. The forms and structures of these works of art are illustrated in ways that are consistent with the cultural attitudes and world-view as understood within the Gaelic framework of reference (ODriscoll, 1998, p. 41). The poetry Derick Thomson is regarded as an illustration of the values of cultural harmony and a celebration of social values as captured within the Gaelic cultural experience. The poetry celebrates the cherished norms and values of the society such as the place of family as a fundamental unit within the Gaelic frame of reference. The values expressed in Gaelic literature are a sum of the perspectives of the constituent cultures on matters of language, religion, family life, social values, and struggles of the community (Hyde, 2006, p. 50). In some sense, there is a way in which the transition of the values is representative of the shifting realities and attitudes due to the discourses of religion, secularization, cultural domination, historical processes, and other influences that combine to shape up to form the Gaelic cultural expression. In some way, it is important to consider the fact that the cultural expression of the Gaelic experience is a representation of the combined groups that constitute the Gaelic experience. Cultural and social representation are brought out in ways that expose both the fears and aspirations of the society in terms of associations with foreign cultures and the impact of cultural domination. The hope for the sustenance of traditional values in the wake of invading foreign influences are equally captured in the range of poetry and prose that was developed within the space of time that Gaelic literature developed. In many ways, Gaelic literature articulated the fear of subjugation and the struggle of the dominated communities against the structures and values supplanted on the Gaelic world by the invading cultures (Koch, 2006, p. 62). As a response to the systematic subjugation of the people, the poets and writers of the time explored ways in which they could restore the values that had been eroded by external influences. In a sense, the literature sought to restore humanism and a sense of nationhood of an endangered civilization. The literature sought to establish a linkage of Gaelic civilization from the ancient to the modern world. The expression of cultural unity is largely considered as an effort to reestablish the heritage of the Gaelic speaking communities. Derick Thomson’s poetry also illustrates the manner in which the Gaelic cultures value the place of women in the society. Thomson paints a romantic picture of the Gaelic culture in ways that capture the world in terms of the consistency of life across communities and generations (O’Leary, 2004; Campbell, & Black, 2006). The physical environment and the human society are portrayed as being in perfect harmony. The growth of values Gaelic literature is traceable from the Middle Ages at the time when its writers, poets, and artists started contributing significantly to the growth of the literature. In the course of its historical development, the writers trained their skills and talents to the glorification of Gaelic heritage, geographical beauty, cultural values, and social attitudes, which distinguished them as a people from other civilizations. The accounts of the group’s early literature offers important hints to the unique usage of language, the cherished values of love, compassion, and unity, which were part of the cultural and social adhesives that united the Gaelic world. Historically, Gaelic literature is considered to have thrived most significantly during the era of the Lordship of the Isles, which according to historians spanned the periods of 1200 to 1493. The work is equally traceable in the various works of art developed by the Columbian monks in the sixth century A.D. The high literate culture that expressed itself within the Iona monastery is considered as one of the strengths that gave force to the development and spread of Gaelic literature. Much focus of this literature was largely focused on the dominant themes related to social events and challenges that prevailed at the time when the writers dedicated their works of art. Gaelic literature actively engaged the subject of freedom and liberty of the human spirit from a universal point of view. Gaelic writers who worked outside their homeland explored on the universal themes of liberty and freedom in ways that captured the tribulations of the oppressed people in different parts of the globe. This effort entailed the translation of local experiences to a universal context. Examples are given of poets as Duncan Livingstone who flourished between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. After his emigration to Pretoria in South Africa, Livingstone dedicated his art on developing prophetic poetry about some of the challenges that were to confront the white minority rule. He thus translated the celebration of the human spirit to a universal context hence setting off a trend of Gaelic writers in the diaspora. Consistent with the struggle for liberty was the reality of dislocation, which had been occasioned by the stifling influences of foreign invaders. It became necessary for the literature of the day to embrace the values of struggle and redemption in order to mend the distorted mentality and loss of self-belief. The truncation of the indigenous culture by the invading power led to a cultural struggle that was fought partly on the terrain of literature. The foreigners sought to intimidate the culture of the natives in order to make them wholly dependent to their mercies. The effect was often aimed at the conscience of the natives. The process of subjugation threatened the survival of the hosts in a way that required a literary effort of redemption. As such, Gaelic writers dedicated their effort to the tackling of the challenge of liberation at the subconscious level. Cultural expressionism was an important element in Gaelic literature. The values espoused in Gaelic literature were stored within the cultural reservoir, which meant that the literature had to draw significantly from cultural images in order to make their meaning more relevant and potent. Gaelic literature could be considered as a celebration of culture in the most authentic manner that involved an awareness of foreign influences. Gaelic language, as a non-material aspect of the culture became the means by which the cultural values transited from the cultural domain to the literary expression as represented in both poetry and prose. In essence, the cultural values of companion, love, and unity were captured in ways that seemed consistent with other aesthetic qualities of the culture. For instance, the praise of the geographical environment, the historical heritage, and cultural values were harmonized so that they appeared to represent a continuum of stability and order. The cultural harmony as expressed in Gaelic culture was articulated in such a manner that captured the movement of time and the struggles for recognition and self-identity in the face of competition from rival languages and regional balance of power. The desire to match the developments and sense of cultural progress that had been achieved by the English and Latin speaking communities gave force to a renewed drive that sought to increase the tempo of cultural expression. Gaelic poetry praised the superiority of the language, the people, and the land in ways that promoted the feeling of cultural superiority in the group. As a result, the language is usually regarded as a manifestation of the values of self-determination of the Gaelic people in ways that distinguishes them from other cultures. The expression of Gaelic language in literature was meant to preserve the cultural values of industry, creativity, productivity, and honesty are celebrated in Gaelic poetry. Gaelic literature written in the nineteenth century espoused the values of reformation, which were consistent with the force of reformation that was sweeping across Scotland. Authors such as John Carswell were influential through their contribution in translating into Gaelic some of the sublime values of reformation. Carswell is most remembered for translating the Book of Common Order into Gaelic. John Knox originally wrote the book. The religious books authored at the time of the revolution are considered to constitute part of the Gaelic culture precisely because that transcended from strict religiosity to define aspects of social life as understood within the framework of culture. In this sense, it is widely regarded that Gaelic literature was largely a manifestation of the combined social, religious, and political values that bound the Gaelic speaking people together. The opening up of the Gaelic literary experience to a universal context demanded an adoption of a broadened perspective of literature in order to capture the feelings and aspirations of the people. Such efforts are evident in the works of writers such as John MacLean whose contribution is recognized, in part, through the translation of the Odyssey into Gaelic. The broadening of the Gaelic literary scope was important in the birthing of a hybrid of culture that made it possible for the Gaelic society to perceive the world in terms larger than their immediate experiences. The short-term and long-term consequences of such efforts could be seen in the celebration of the values of humanism and the embracing of the ideals of universalism. Literature became a vehicle of uniting the closed aspects of Gaelic culture with positive forces in the outside world in a way that protected the culture from the dangers of internal ruin. Evidence from the early poetry and other works of art in Gaelic shows some determined efforts from the early and modern artists to strike a delicate balance between internal values and external influences. On the one hand, there seemed to be the desire to shield the Gaelic culture from possible negative influences arising out of the interaction with foreign cultures and influences. On the other hand, there was the need to link up with alternative literary expressions in order to morph into the vehicle of literary development as expressed on a global perspective. Such processes were consistent with some of the inner issues and concerns regarding the security of a culture and a civilization that was increasingly coming into confrontation with other foreign forces of domination. The contribution of Norman McLeod is considered as phenomenal in the sense that it extended the genre of Gaelic literature into new forms of prose, dialogues, and short stories (Brown, 2007). These new forms supplied more opportunities for the author and his successors to expand the literary expression of Gaelic values. It was now possible for the authors to exploit their talents and skills to give form to feelings of community and a sense of belonging, which had not been adequately captured in the earlier forms of artistic expressions. It might be argued that some of the new genres enhanced the aesthetic values of prose by providing new alternatives in which the Gaelic language could be used to give force to new languages and forms. Earlier forms of expression had rigid forms and structures, which made it difficult for the expression of feelings and emotions, which constitute the daily discourse in the Gaelic culture. The transformation of the forms of literature as brought out in the new forms enabled the expansion of the scope of issues and values to be covered by the authors. On this matter, it might be important to consider the fact that works of literature develop with specific cultural environments. The social and cultural environments are the parent entities that spark creativity and support the thematic structures of such works. As such the values of cultural cohesiveness and unity as brought out in the Gaelic literature were derivatives of the ordinary experiences transferred into the creative realm of the authors (O’Connor, 1922). Alternative forms of expressing Gaelic cultural values in literature marked an important departure from the confines of religious worldview towards a more secular approach to literature. There was a shifting of themes to capture the diverse aspect of life as observed within the Gaelic cultural worldview. There was also a sense in which Gaelic writers increased their levels of flexibility by experimenting with new forms besides those that had been controlled by the dominant literature of the times. Alternative voices that emerged within the doctrine were important vehicles that were used by the writers to explore on other values that had been filtered out of the literature that was founded on doctrine of religion and reformation. Gaelic literature provides the force that revitalizes the language in ways that provide glimpses into the cultural ways life of the Gaelic speaking communities. The articulation of values is representative of the intention of the authors to represent some of the life of the Gaelic in ways of the relationships that were fundamental to the social fabric (Daiches, 1979). The values of patriarchy and celebration of motherhood are some of the common features to be found within Gaelic literature. An understanding of this literature could be regarded in terms of the relationship between the Gaelic speaking people and other cultures that were considered to be in direct competition with the societies. The expression of the cultural pride within the language was an effort that was directed towards the reclamation of lost identities. The values were also articulated for consolidating the cultural power as expressed in language. Ellen O’Leary is one of the most influential Gaelic poets within the Fenian poetry category. Her poetry touched on the subjects of nationalism, patriotism, and revolt. The success of her poetry is based on the fact that she used simple rhymes in order to capture the passions of the Irish populations. Her poems such as “To God and Ireland True” and “Slash Away Boys and Burn The All” are symptomatic of the nationalist cause at the heart of her creative endeavor (Stedman, 2005, p. 700). For instance in the poem “To God and Ireland True” the poet uses the line; “to God and Ireland True” in nearly every stanza to demonstrate her loyalty to Irish nationalism and the quest for freedom (Stedman, 2005, p. 700). The second line of the last stanza uses the line “And then I love my land” to show the level of attachment to Irish heritage and culture (Stedman, 2005, p. 700). The expression of her poetry was simple in a way that demonstrated some deep connection to the Irish culture. Works Cited Brown, I 2007, The Edinburgh History of Scottish Literature, Edinburgh University Press, New York. Campbell, J, G, & Black, R 2006, The Gaelic Otherworld, Birlinn, Edinburgh. Daiches, D 1979, A Critical History of English Literature: The Restoration to 1800, Allied Publishers, New York. Hyde, D 2006, The Story Of Early Gaelic Literature, Lightning Source Incorporated, New York. Koch, J, T 2006, Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO, New York. O’Connor, N, J 1922, Battles and Enchantments: Retold from Early Gaelic Literature, Ayer Company Pub, New York. O’Leary, P 2004, The Prose Literature of the Gaelic Revival, 1881-1921, Penn State Press, New York. ODriscoll, R 1998, Celtic consciousness, George Braziller Inc, New York. Stedman, E, C 2005, A Victorian Anthology 1837 to 1895, Kessinger Publishing, Whitefish, Montana. Read More