The Rising of the Moon
The play The Rising of the Moon by Lady Gregory is a short one that follows a couple of men related to law enforcement in some way. It is the story of the attempted capture of an escaped prisoner and a humorous discussion of what guides the path of our lives. Here is a breakdown of the characters.
The sergeant:
The sergeant is the leader of the company of police officers, and he is in charge of the effort to recapture the prisoners. During the play, we learn of his past and life and that he is something of an Irish patriot, but the path of his life led him to follow safety and security, so he agreed to be a patrolmen with the British and has now found himself the sergeant of this company of police officers. He becomes somewhat fond of the prisoner.
Sergeant
Sergeant, an officer in the Royal Irish Constabulary, a force recruited from native Irishmen by the British authorities. The Sergeant reveals the ambiguities and divided loyalties of his professional role. He is a slow, cautious, and somewhat unimaginative character. Although he is not particularly enlightened, he is also not outside the range of patriotic sentiment’s appeal. His discovery that this is the case is as much of a surprise to him as it is to the audience.
The ragged man:
The ragged man, as he is introduced, has several different identities. He acts as a bard and ballad singer, entertaining the sergeant as they sit and talk, watching for the escapee. He looks like a simple, raggedly dressed man, but says he would recognize the fugitive from a mile away and offers to help look for him. The reality is that he is in fact the escaped prisoner, and he is waiting for the ship that carries his helpers so he can escape. While they sit, he probes the sergeant's psyche, and the two surprisingly bond.
The two officers:
The two officers, who are assistants to the sergeant, have few words to say and only act to offer exposition for the rest of the story. They partner with the sergeant in handing out flyers and hope to catch the man.
The rescuers:
The final group are never seen, but they respond to the fugitive's signal and have come to rescue him. They are driving a ship that passes nearby the quay.
