Cathleen Ni Houlihan And The Easter Rebellion

Moreover, Yeats and Gregory use their drama as an outlet to reveal how the restricting British colonization in Ireland reduced Irish identity. Without changing this reality, the Irish people and culture will continue to suffer. While it may take more suffering and death to end the British control, it is a necessary evil, according to Cathleen Ni Houlihan. The old woman goes on to say, "many that are red-checked now will be pale-checked," and still, the sacrifice will be worth it in the future as "they shall be remembered for ever" (Yeats 11). Her song serves as a battle cry to evoke one 's nationalistic sense of duty to Ireland, just like it did for Michael. Nevertheless, his choice to go to war rejuvenates the old woman to become young again restores the fighting spirit to the Ireland she represents. Cathleen Ni Houlihan urges the Irish people to follow suit and revitalize their sense of nationalism.

Arguably the most significant rebellion since the 1798 Rebellion, the Easter Rebellion was a huge step towards the Irish gaining independence, and yet the sting of death still radiated among the nationalists. In fact, many of the fighters in the Easter Rebellion would chant the last part of the old woman 's song from Cathleen Ni Houlihan: "They shall be remembered for ever, / They shall be alive forever, / They shall be speaking forever, / The people shall hear them forever" (Yeats). The aforementioned verse chanted years later by steadfast fighters demonstrates how Cathleen 's symbolism strongly influenced and invoked nationalism to halt the British