Riders to the Sea main character Maurya, an old peasant woman, standing on the coast

Riders to the Sea

by J. M. Synge

Start Free Trial

Student Question

How is death depicted in Riders to the Sea?

Quick answer:

In Riders to the Sea, death is portrayed as an inescapable part of life, often anticipated with a sense of foreboding. The characters, particularly Maurya, have a strong intuition about impending deaths, as seen with Michael and Bartley. Despite the tragedies, Maurya accepts death as inevitable, expressing gratitude for the dignified burials of her sons. Her acceptance is encapsulated in her final words, underscoring the play's depiction of death as an unavoidable reality.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

In Riders to the Sea, death is depicted as a sense and an inevitable part of life.

The play starts with Maurya’s daughters Cathleen and Nora speculating about their brother Michael. Although they don’t have proof yet, the sisters sense that the drowned person is their brother Michael. A young priest is bringing the clothes from the drowned man, and she and Nora sense that the clothes belong to Michael. Arguably, Maurya also senses that Michael is the drowned man, which is why she is lying down and “speaking querulously.” She is uneasy and preparing herself for the tragic news.

Concerning her living son Bartley, Maurya senses that he will die if he goes on his trip to sell horses. This is why she tells him, “It’s hard set we’ll be surely the day you’re drown’d with the rest.” Bartley doesn’t heed his mother’s premonitions, so Maurya calls him a “hard and cruel man” for not listening to her. Later, Maurya’s forebodings give her scary visions about Michael and Bartley. The apparitions reinforce her sixth sense.

By the end, Bartley has died, and Maurya makes peace with her fate. Death is depicted as an unavoidable fact of life. Maurya doesn’t bemoan her lot. Instead, she thanks “the Grace of the Almighty God” for giving Michael a “clean burial” at sea and granting her the ability to supply Bartley with a nice coffin. Death is shown as something that should be accepted. Maurya's final words are, “No man at all can be living for ever, and we must be satisfied.”

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial