Riders to the Sea

Riders to the Sea is heavy with foreshadowing, or the practice of hinting at future events in literature or drama. The foreshadowing is felt even by the characters, as they are steeped in lingering superstitious culture. Even from the opening of the play, images like the white boards in the cottage foreshadow death, since white boards were used for coffins, and the women keep them in the house because they suspect Michael is dead. Instead, Michael’s burial is in the sea, and Bartley dies, leaving the women with cause to use the boards still. Bartley also switches out his own flannel for his dead brother’s before going to sea, foreshadowing his death. The foreshadowing in Riders to the Sea works alongside the family’s superstitious beliefs; they are hyper-aware of each hint at a possible death, and they do what they can, like providing blessings, to fight those foreshadowed losses.

Imagery plays an important role in the play through both stage props and dialogue. The stage props (See: Symbols & Motifs) provide imagery to foreshadow the events of the play; the nets entrap the household as well as provide a living through fishing, and the white boards, meant for Michael’s possible burial, foreshadow both Michael’s and Bartley’s deaths.