The Role of Tinkers in J. M. Synge’s Exploration of National Identity

In early-twentieth-century Ireland, a period marked by fervent efforts toward establishing a new independent nation, Irish Literature saw the emergence of an increasing number of stranger figures. In particular, the recurrent presence of “tinkers” as a central motif in dramatic texts of this era invites a close investigation, given the profound influence of Irish drama and theatre on the formulation of Irish national consciousness. J. M. Synge, one of the most prominent playwrights of the Irish Literary Revival period, examined Irish identity through his work. This paper endeavors to illuminate Synge’s distinctive perception of the nascent Ireland and his way of constructing Irish national identity, focusing on the role of wanderers in three of his plays: In the Shadow of the Glen (1904), The Well of the Saints (1905), and The Playboy of the Western World (1907). I argue that Synge strategically employs the archetype of the outsider, specifically the “tinker,” to explore the national identity and the values of the burgeoning Irish nation. Synge portrays these stranger characters with attractiveness, positioning them as a potential alternative to the conservative and repressive societal norms of the insiders. However, these figures turn out to be unacceptable to the established community and remain outside the border at the end of the plays. Ultimately, Synge attempts to use his wandering characters as instruments of upheaval and purification, thereby expunging the enduring remnants of British influence from Irish nationality and creating space for the emergence of a new, yet-to-be-established Irishness.