What is the role of Owen in Translations? :: English Literature

What is the role of Owen in Translations?One of the first things Owen says on returning to Baile Beg is Icant believe it. I come back after six years and everythings justas it was Nothings changed It is unfeignedly Owen who has changed intoa different person after his time away from Baile Beg. His primaryrole in the coquet is that of a translator for the visiting position, but at heart his role of translator he is also vital to the play as hispresence allows relationships between the characters and the plot todevelop.Owen provides many contrasting point of views due to the accompaniment that heis working for the English but also a Baile Beg resident. He is arepresentative of the to a greater extent forward - thinking Irish, such as himselfand Maire. He and Maire realise that for the natural progression ofthe Irish society they need to work with the English and not againstthem. Owen has passed the cultural divide that exists between theIrish and English because he can communicate with them and understandtheir point of view. He has also progressed as an individual throughknowledge and understanding. This could be Friels way of manifestation thatprogress can only come after understanding. Manus can also speak English but chooses not to, this shows theimportance of communication to progression. He prefers to use alanguage, which is becoming less widely used, this may be a symbol ofthe backwardness of his homeland. The most significant enemy in the re-naming of the places is that theIrish believe it to be a removal of their heritage and tradition, asManus says, Whats incorrect about the place names we have here?Owenss view on the idea of preservation of tradition is veryquestionable. For example when he and Yolland are discussing what tocall Tobair Vree he asks, do we keep piety with a man long dead, longforgotten, his name eroded beyond recognition, whose trivial littlestory nobody else in the parish remembers? Here Owen points to theIrish peoples almost insti nctive fear of change. He thinks thattradition is silly and just an excuse to hide from progression. Owenis the neutral and less passionate character in the play thereforethe audience find it easier to relate with Owen. In fact it ispossible to call Owen the chief narrator. Although Owen is the translator in the play he acts as more of abarrier of understanding because when translating for Yolland andLancey he omits details and changes meanings for words. A goodexample for this would be when he changes Maires sentence of Has he