In Brian Friel’s play “The Diviner”, we follow the heartbreaking story of a woman named Nelly, who lives in the village of Drumeen. Nelly is married to a man named Tom, who is an alcoholic and frequently drinks heavily. One day, something happens that completely disrupts Nelly’s life.
In this article, I provide the information after reading this book:
- Author
- Characters
- Summary
- Analysis
- Themes
- Lessons
- Conclusion
Author
It’s a short story written by Brian Friel. He was a famous Irish writer. His literary content explains the social changes and their effect on individuals. This story is simple that enhanced my interest during reading.
Characters
- The main characters discovered by me:
Nelly
She is the main character of the book. She is portrayed as a nice lady in the book by the author. She was married to Tom who never worked for 25 years. Nelly worked hard after Tom’s passing. She seems to be an industrious woman.
Tom
He was Nelly’s husband. The author portrays him as a drunk man.
Author Doherty
He was Nelly’s second husband in the storybook. He appears to dislike meeting villagers, but they regard him as a better man than Nelly’s previous husband.
The Diviner By Brian Friel Summary
I read this story in the Irish Stories collection book. Well, the plot starts with a woman named Nelly. She was married to a drunken man named Tom. He never worked for 25 years. He always procrastinates in life. The story has a twist for readers when Tom dies in an accident. This news shattered Nelly’s heart. She suffered bad days after Tom. She worked as a house cleaner for various reputable people, including a dentist.
Furthermore, Nelly appears to have a spiritual side in the story. She had contact with Father Curran, a nearby priest from the church. Soon, Nelly decided to marry Author Doherty. He seems a man who looks good. He dressed nicely. The author shared his views on Doherty’s nature in the book. You can read them in the story. Well, they are both married and live happily. The real hardship came when news of Doherty’s death came up. While boating, he drowned in the lake. The people of the town offered their condolences to Nelly. Everyone believed that Doherty was a great husband.
Villagers searched for Doherty’s body but could not find it. They called a diviner who demanded pieces of Doherty and went into the lake. After a time, he discovered Doherty’s corpse. The story ends when a villager named McElwee discovers bottles of whisky in Dohert’s pocket. It was shocking news because villagers saw Doherty as a nice man. The man hides the bottles from Nelly, creating a positive image of the deceased for her.
Analysis
This storybook did not have a significant impact on me. Further, I didn’t think of it as having complex themes. Rest assured, it seems Nelly was a courageous woman. She survived the difficulties. She seemed spiritual.
- An element of deception is seen. It seems Nelly was unaware of Doherty’s alcoholic nature. That’s why the villager hides the bottles from her.
Themes
- Some main themes are:
Betrayal
Everyone, including Nelly, thought that Doherty was a nice man. The villager who discovered bottles near Doherty’s corpse was shocked. It looks like that Nelly was betrayed again.
Bad Habit
Tom was a drunkard man who even died in his drunk state. He was hit by a vehicle while riding his cycle.
Loyalty
Nelly remained loyal to Tom. She tolerated his jobless habit for 25 years. She supported him these years.
Lessons
Here are a few lessons for you:
- Do hard work in difficult times as Nelly did after Tom’s death.
- Please be mindful of avoiding the negative habits that Tom exhibits in the story.
- If we can save someone’s trust, we should make such nice gestures. The villager in the book is a testament to this genuine nature.
- Women like Nelly are role models.
Conclusion: Synopsis Of The Diviner By Brian Friel
The Diviner by Brian Friel portrays Nelly’s struggles in her marriage to Tom, an alcoholic. After Tom’s departure, she married the second time to Doherty. An event happens in the story that shocks her completely.
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