The Irish Potato Famine

By Author: Alice Ken
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The Irish potato famine, which occurred in the early 19th Century, impacted a lot the entire work of authorship in Ireland. Basically, many Irish authors have found it important to explore their country’s history by expounding on various historic phenomena which happened in their country. As it has been revealed, the Great Irish Famine, also referred to as Irish Potato Famine, has generally contributed to the development of historical writing by providing various writers with a subject to express in their writings. This has been found to spring from the development of literatures, history, agriculture and technology among others. This paper presents the various issues brought out by the Irish Potato Famine and their ultimate influence on the Irish authors, by expounding on the various contributors towards their motivation in writing (Cormac 25-109). It is important to note that, History provides a basis for postulating future trends of events by considering on various factors which contributed to a certain event. Considering the history of the Irish Potato Famine, various writers from Ireland have found it important to express ...
... their art of writing by writing on its particular causes and the factors which underlie it development. As it is reported by various writers about the ‘Irish Potato Famine’ the population of Ireland dropped significantly by 24%. This has been analyzed to be one of the main calamities which faced the country up to date. In this regard therefore, it would been more appropriate to expound on the issue deeper. As a result many Irish writers thrived to research on the exact trend of events which contributed to the famine. More precisely it is this major calamity in the country of Ireland which contributed towards the motivation of various writers to bring the issue into a clearer focus by engaging into writing about it (Litton 39-113). Certainly, many poets presented the conditions of the great famine in manner that, the future generation would be in a position to figure out clearly on the circumstances which were prevailing during that calamity. Specifically, various poems in pious moods were acrimoniously presented to make people understand how terrible the great famine was. For instance, the poem by Pete (1935) “The Fields of Athenry” was really a touching one in which he clearly presented the ultimate conditions which prevailed: “…By a lonely harbor wall She watched the last star falling As that prison ship sailed out against the sky Sure she’ll wait and hope and pray For her love in Botany Bay It’s so lonely ’round the Fields of Athenry.” As it has been reported, this particular famine in Ireland has never been exceeded proportionally, by other related calamities across the world like Bengali Famine which occurred in the year 1943 among others. As it has been revealed, the Irish Potato Famine has been known widely and for period due to its notoriety than as it has been with other world famines. Basically, this popularity of the Irish Potato Famine was attributed by it being studied as a case study in ‘Malthusian exegenesis’. In this case, the effect of famine Ireland was very great due to the various factors underlying the country’s population structure. The population of Ireland historically has been revealed to be comprising of very few unemployed people, with limited natural resources to exploit. As a result, the entire population of Ireland resulted into overdependence on ‘giffen goods’. As a result the desperation sprouted from the law of demand where potatoes, being regarded as giffen commodities, were largely ordered with decline in incomes. By so doing, this particular calamity in Ireland became so unique that, it drew attention from the country’s writers to expound on it (Lengel 7-98). It is important to note that, this particular event in Ireland remains one of the world’s most remarkable events where the largest number of people died proportionally. Considering the size of Ireland and the death level of more than 8million people, resulting from the famine, such an event really remains eminent among the world‘s great events. As it was reported by the year 1850, less than 4.4 million people were remaining in Ireland, where many of them had moved to the neighboring regions in search of food. In this case therefore, the situation in Ireland necessitated the drawing of attention from the media in order to express and bring out the conditions precisely. It is in this regard that many Irish authors came out to investigate the matter so as to expound it to the people for posterity purposes. It was also important for these authors to focus on this particular event, as it affected the country greatly in both economic and social terms (Clark 45-154). As revealed by Moore (1850) in his poem ‘All in the Family Way’ the calamity affected the people both economically and socially. Specifically, the conditions which prevailed during the time of the calamity are brought out clearly in his poem: “…My banks are all furnished with rags, So thick, even Freddy can't thin 'em; I've torn up my old money-bags, Having little or nought to put in 'em. My tradesman are smashing by dozens, But this is all nothing, they say; For bankrupts, since Adam, are cousins, So, it's all in the family way.” (Moore, 1850) It is important to note the way the author of this poem presented the conditions as they were terrible in all social aspects. By so doing, the poet made it possible for the future generation to understand better how the condition were precisely. Further, the nationalist design of the history of Ireland draws some interest, where the great famine was the focal point for such historical studies. As it is revealed, the historical relationship between Ireland and Britain aroused and contributed towards an acrimonious union between the two countries. As it happened, the Irish people expected Britain to respond to its famine calamity by providing it with food alms in vain. It is this particular reason of British’s failure to care about the needs of the Irish people that still drew attention of many Irish writers to focus on the famine more than it was expected. Basically, the British did not expect the Irish people to remain loyal to them anymore, after abandoning them during the time of need. In fact, the relationship between Ireland and Britain was constricted since many Irish people were very much disappointed after Britain refused to help it with food materials (Litton 39-113). Basically, various analysts on both local and international matters still initiated an investigation to establish the reasons for Britain’s failure to help the Irish people at this critical moment of their lives. Various scholars from Ireland seemed to have innate interests in establishing the particular causes of the failure of the British government to help it with food. In this respect therefore, economists, political scientists, historians and geographers among others established various researches in their pursuit to establish the reasons as to why the Britons failed to help them. By so doing, the Great Famine can be said to have influenced a lot on the development of Irish authors in various fields. Basically, the involvement of Irish writers on various fields concerning related content with the great famine has greatly been influenced by the uniqueness of the event in its historic times (Lengel 7-98). The lateness of the Irish Potato Famine still accrued notoriety as a result of its context and lateness. In the entire Western and European Regions, famine was a rare happening in which many people did not expect to face such a situation of lacking food. It is the rarely of this famine in the region that made the occurrence of famine in Ireland draw a lot of attention. In addition, it was more than two centuries ago before the country of Ireland was affected by the calamity, as the other countries in the region had previously suffered from minor famine cases. In this regard therefore, the intensity, context and the lateness of the famine made it a unique one, encouraging many Irish writers to express their ideas on its focus. In general, most of the Irish writers have been observed to have engaged seriously in writing the various causes of the famine and its subsequent implications on the entire Irish economy (Clark 45-154). Perhaps, the cause of the Irish potato famine has not been clearly determined; since many famines across the world have been found to be as a result of war, draught or floods. In the case of Irish Potato Famine, its cause has been reported to be from unusual source, as it is believed to have been caused by ecological disaster. As a result, the Great Famine in Ireland became so familiar and popular that, many writers could not hesitate to write about it in order to expound on its unique characteristics and adverse effects. Particularly, the Great Famine in Ireland resulted into the highest level of immigration in the country which coincided with the Second World War. Due to this many of Irish culprits became quite needy of both food and security. As it is revealed, many of the war culprits from Ireland became part of the great Death Match initiated by Japanese troops were many of them ended up dying because of torture, diseases and hunger (Litton 39-113). As it has been revealed, it has taken so many years for the Irish survivors of the famine to restore their initial conditions, where many of them remained totally citizens of the countries they migrated to. It is of crucial significance to focus on the trend of events since the onset of the great famine up to its end and the subsequent implications to the fate of Ireland. Perhaps, various arguments have been made on the possibility of Ireland being not in a position to restructure its economic sectors to be able to sustain itself economically. Basically, various assertions by critiques after the great famine indicate that, the country has not been able to cater for enough labor force necessary for sustainable production in its gross domestic economy. As a result, various authors of economic and business materials necessitate the development of various literate materials necessary to guide in the process of restructuring the country’s economy. It should thus be noted that, the great famine in Ireland resulted into establishment of various literature materials by Irish authors concerning the restructuring of the country’s economy (Lengel 7-98). For Irish today, one of their most widely talked stories which have been found to be having the most lasting legacy is the story of the Great Famine. Many nationalists have been revealed to research deeply about their historic major events, in which the ‘Irish Potato Famine’ forms the basis. Many folklorists and novelists have really found the stories about the famine most enticing among the people in which most of their writings have largely been based on such famine stories and underlying tales. Though the writings largely vary in their development strategies and contexts, there has been eminently the use of thematic expressions of the Great famine in almost all the writings expressed by the Irish writers. Generally, such authors in the various fields have all been observed to intersect on their focusing on themes related to the great famine (Litton 39-113). For instance, book ‘Irish Historical Studies’ has found its thematic development focusing on the great famine; in which its content constitute of more than 60% about the great famine. Certainly, as it can be observed, the development of the various writings by Irish writers has entirely been on the focus of the ‘Irish Potato Famine.’ As a matter of fact, the book ‘Irish Historical studies’ has been widely used in many colleges and universities in the country; where various scholars have been able to know much about their historic origin, and much more on the particular great famine. Basically, various Irish scholars have been greatly moved by the way they learn about the great famine in their country. In this regard, many have been triggered to engage in the writing of historical and reflective novels about what really happened during the time of the Great Famine (Cormac 25-109). ‘The Great Hunger’ by Smith for instance is one of the greatest novels in Ireland which has captured most of the ideas and events which were revolving round the cause of the Great Famine. In fact, the novel, which is one of the local novels in Ireland, has greatly aroused a tone of indignant deride that acknowledged it. For instance, Smith (24) asserts that “At times, entire homeless families, ravaged by fever, simply laid down along the roadside and died, succumbing to 'Road Fever.'” As it is revealed in his writings, Smith precisely presents how the calamity affected all the people in the entire country by making them beggars against their wish. In fact from the studies of the historical features which revolved round the time of the Great Famine, various writing careers were developed where most of the Irish remnants became specialists in the writing career. Certainly, the development writing career or authorship by most Irish was greatly impacted by the uniqueness and the wide nature of the ‘Irish Potato Famine’. By so doing, the authors would be enhancing the understanding of their country’s history to the citizens, which would greatly motivate them to be hardworking so as to re-build it (Lengel 7-98). Basically, it has been of great significance by the Irish authors to develop various relevant literate materials in various fields so as to motivate the country’s citizens to be actively involved in the various economic boosting activities. More precisely, the focusing on the trends the country has been going through since the onset of the calamity until its end, the citizens would have an overview framework on how to approach the current situation for the better. Through understanding its unusual onset, it gives the people the mandate of being prepared always, in order to ensure their being on the safe side incase of an unexpected. Perhaps, the development of local authors in the country as a result of the Great Famine in the country really can be described to be originating from the intensity of that particular event (Litton 39-113). As it was observed, the development of writing careers among the Irish scholars greatly stems from the various happenings which occurred during the time of the great famine. For instance, the invention of a mystery fungus ‘phytophthora infestan’ in the country as a result of its infection on maize really helped in scientific development. As it happened, the infestation of the fungus on the available maize reduced food substances in the country, leaving potatoes to be the only remedy for food, especially for the poor who could not afford any other type of food. Generally, this particular invasion of the fungus on the available maize, resulting into the remarkable famine, really caused many scholars to start engaging into the study of the fungus (Clark 45-154). It can thus be argued that, the development of the fungus alarming the country of food shortage which consequently results into the Great Famine contributed a lot in enhancing the development of scientific books from the study of the fungus. Perhaps, most scholars from Ireland could not help from studying on that harmful virus, which really caused many people to die as a result of food shortage as well as others dying of the poison released from eating infested maize with the particular virus. From that time the famine set on in the country resulting from the harmful virus which attacked the maize reserves in the country, various laboratory tests were initiated to investigate on the fungus. As a result, various books and articles on the virus were developed; thus the famine can be described to have contributed to the massive development of authorship in the country (Litton 39-113). From this incidence still, various analysts started engaging in analyzing the particular impacts of the invasion of the fungus in the country. As it was revealed, the virus resulted into increase of maize prices; in which its price hiked, despite the nutritional value of the product declining as a result of being infested with the virus. Basically, economists and other sociologists ceaselessly got involved in analyzing the particular impacts caused by the incidence. As a result various books and articles about the whole analysis of the entire famine incidence were developed. In this regard therefore, the invasion of the fungus ‘phytophthora infestan’ contributed towards the development of authorship among the Irish people, as a result of the unexpectedly serious famine (Lengel 7-98). Basically, the particular famine resulted in to development of other side-problems which worsened the situation. For instance it is reported that, apart from nutritional diseases like kwashiorkor and marasmus among the children, other lethal diseases like fever, influenza and small pox infected people making the situation to become worse. As the conditions were, the nutritional status of the malnourished people was weakened by the development of these other related ailments which caused a lot alarm among the Irish people. Specifically, the high number of deaths experienced during that time has greatly been attributed to the availability of these other problems. Despite of the situation lacking a potential cause of the famine, most scholars got much involved in looking into an insight situation of the famine (Cormac 25-109). It is important to put into consideration that, out of such awful events that were happening in the country as a result of the famine, many scholars get much involved in trying to understand what was the exact and more precise cause and conditions underlying the famine. Basically, the career of authorship of various academic materials in explaining the exact situation during the time of the famine sprang from the wide variety of events which subsequently underlined the Great Famine. Specifically, many scholars in various disciplines analyzed the Great Famine in their areas of specialization, where various books and articles were developed in relation to the particular famine. It can thus be inferred that, the development of various authors in Ireland can be attributed to the Great Famine at a great deal. Considering all the aspects of the famine, most of the authors in various disciplines have been found to revolve their ideas and arguments in the ‘The Irish Potato Famine’; which influenced many authors in the country to focus their writings on the particular event (Lengel 7-98). In demographic studies, most geographers and historians have been found to focus greatly on the intensity of population decline experienced during the time of Irish Potato Famine which was largely found to be quite alarming on the country’s prosperity. In the year 1851, Ireland can be described to have had the lowest population among the states in the Philippines region. The particular famine involved a lot of deaths where many individuals were not able to able to help their loved ones from dying as no one was potentially capable of saving the other. According to poet Dwyer (1-2), many people were just watching their loved ones die without affording even a pinch of help for them. For instance, Dwyer (1-2) asserts: “….It's blood for blood without remorse I took at Oulart Hollow And laid my true love's clay cold corpse Where mine full soon may follow Around her grave I wander drear Noon, night and morning early With breaking heart whene'er I hear The wind that shakes the barley” More specifically, the country had incurred the highest rate of population decline as a result of immigration to the nearby countries like Philippines in search of food. After a careful analysis of the conditions underlying Ireland, its population was found to be less by 56% than as expected; in which all this eminent decline was as a result of deaths and immigrations. It this remarkable sharp decline in the population of Ireland which triggered many scholars to develop articles and books explaining the situation and how it generally impacted on the country overall welfare (Clark 45-154). Further, various critics have also blamed the government on the current situation of the country since the time of the Great Famine. More specifically, it has been observed that, since the effects of the famine in the country, very few adjustments have been made by the government to resolve the issue completely, even after the end of the famine. In the contemporary society in Ireland, the government has been found to have failed greatly in reinstating the country since after the effects of the great famine. May scholars have therefore been actively involved in developing article and other formal writings to provoke the government to establish appropriate re-adjustments on the basis of the aftermaths of the famine (Cormac 25-109). In this regard, various scholars have also been revealed to get actively involved in authorship of books and articles to criticize the government for not being responsible for the restructuring of the country’s affairs. Specifically, both critics and advisors for the government have been found to base their arguments on what happened during the time of the great Famine. As it happened, various scholars from diversified fields found themselves in a position to express their knowledge concerning certain calamities through writings. The great famine being their major focal point, many scholars consistently engaged in writing about how great the famine was, and exact strategies ought to be put in place in order to prevent any future related happening (Cormac 25-109). Conclusion Generally, the great famine in Ireland has for long been memorized in various parts of the country as well as by remarkable people who have been greatly involved in the explaining to people how the situation was through writings. Certainly, various disciplines have been involved in explaining the exact situation of the Great Famine in Ireland, in which various writings like books and articles among others have been based on. For instance, the involvement of historians in the analysis of the event has led to the development of various authors in the field, trying to expound on how the conditions were during the time of Great Famine. Certainly, historical books can greatly be described to be thriving from the ‘Irish Potato Famine’. Considering the ultimate cause of the famine, which is entirely based on the invasion of a fungus phytophthora infestan, various scientific writings have still been developed on such basis of the famine. More specifically, the contamination of the corn, which was by then used as the staple food, resulting into reduction of its quality, formed a basis for researchers to develop various arguments through articles and books on the adverse effects of the fungus, resulting even into death of the victims. On the other hand, economists also found a basis to explain the various economic constraints facing the country as a result of the famine. Basically, as reported, very huge numbers of deaths were experienced resulting from the famine, which caused many economic constraints in the country from that time up to date. In collaboration with geographers, there were produced articles on how the great famine impacted on the economy by having much reduced labor force in the Irish economy. As a result, many books and articles reflecting the issue were developed by scholars, on their pursuit to advise and criticize the government on its inability to put appropriate measures in the country. More so, the development of literature and literacy studies in the country of Ireland has also been found to entirely rely on the Great Famine in the country. Various novels, Plays, and short stories have really been found to revolve round the great event which almost saw the country off in terms of its economic performance. In this regard, the development of literature in the country has greatly been embedded on the Great Famine in the country, as many authors of such novels and literature materials concentrate their themes on the famine. Generally, the Great famine in Ireland has really been observed to contribute increasing number of authors in the country greatly

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