Family is what unites us, but sometimes the times we spend together can be short-lived or filled with tragedy. As is the case with Riders by the Sea by JM Synge. This story is about the bond loved ones share during a time of heartbreak and despair. We all know characters who have to learn things on their own and this play is a great example of when to let things go and accept whatever the outcome may be. The most intriguing thing about Riders to the Sea was the content which was very strong in nature. In the story we had a mother who had once been surrounded by a house full of men, from her husband down to her sons, sadly all of them had eventually met their demise at the hands of the sea. We read at the beginning from the story that one of Maurya's sons, Michael, had gone on a journey and the ship had not been able to reach there. Remains of clothing were therefore found in an area to the north. Nora and Cathleen discussed this discovery almost in secret while we, the stage directions, said Nora: in a low voice. The struggle is a captivating endeavor for me as they debate whether to go ahead and let Maurya know or continue to let her go down to the shore to see if the bodies of her deceased sons had already washed ashore. We see the struggle of a mother dealing with her son who feels he must go abroad and earn money for his family, regardless of the consequences. Bartley, our protagonist's youngest son, shows his toughness by arguing that he is only one man to work in the field anyway, and just give him two, three or four days and he will return from the trip to the fair to sell the horses. The content appealed to me because I could relate to young Bartley in his quest to accomplish...... middle of paper ...... to give his blessing to his son instead of instantly placing his death on his head, declaring: “He is gone now, may God spare us, and we shall never see him again.” Riders to the Sea is an interesting story about tragedy that can be resisted. Maurya was an extremely strong woman, capable of enduring the sea and always carrying away her beloved. Family unites us but the sea is what divides them. The content, with its drama and tragedy, made me read frankly to find out what happened. Old world English and its straight sentences and seeing the characters with Irish accents was a good way for me to bring the characters to life. Finally, the drama is a great read because of all the different elements that make it up. Seeing characters have to go through trials and ultimately learn a valuable lesson is something that drama always brings, whether it's a tragedy or not..